Zakat to student associations of madrasas

Question

At Dar al-‘Ulum Deoband there are many student associations: for example, those from Purnia have a separate one, Champaran has a separate one, every district has its own separate one. Students benefit from these associations in every way, both financially and with books, as you must know well. Is it permissible or not to give to such associations zakat wealth, sadaqat al-fitr, the hides of sacrificial animals, sadaqa and the like — all such wealth that is wajib upon the owner of the nisab?

Answer

Giving zakat, sadaqat al-fitr and the price of sacrificial hides in charity to the poor is wajib. Hence it is valid to give to an association that arranges to spend them on the proper recipients (masraf). By merely giving loans or lending books, zakat will not be discharged. From such money it is valid to give food and clothing to poor, entitled (mustahiqq) students.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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