Fatwa #206625 January 2001Pakistan
Does the recipient of Zakat need to know he is being given Zakat?
Question
Is it necessary for a Zakat giver to let the Zakat recipient know he/she is being paid Zakat?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
No, the Zakat recipient does not need to know that he is being given Zakat.
The Zakat will be fulfilled even if the giver of Zakat calls it a “gift” while intending to give Zakat.[i]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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ومن أعطى مسكينا دراهم وسماها هبة أو قرضا ونوى الزكاة فإنها تجزيه، وهو الأصح [i]
الفتاوى الهندية، ١/ ١٧١