Feeding students from zakat by seating them together

Question

In a madrasa to which zakat money is given, those entitled to zakat are fed food from the kitchen (matbakh). Will there be any defect in the discharge of zakat if everyone, rich and poor, is seated together and fed this food?

Answer

Zakat food must be given to the entitled person by way of tamlik (transfer of ownership), so that he understands: “This amount is my property, whether I eat it, sell it or feed someone with it.” When everyone is seated together and fed, this is not the case.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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