Installing a water pump with zakat or interest money

Question

A person receives interest from the bank, and he also gives some money of zakat to the poor. Now this person wishes to have a well (and) a water pump built in his village for the public with the interest or zakat money. Is it permissible to do so or not? If it is permissible, is it permissible to drink water from such a well and pump or not?

Answer

This is not allowed. However many rupees he has spent on building this well and pump, he should give that amount to the deserving (mustahiqqin). Drinking water from this well and pump is permissible both for him and for others.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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