Is it permissible to use funds collected as Zakat ul fitr throughout the year to feed the needy? or just it all be used/distributed right after Ramadan?
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
Understanding the base principle in such Zakatul Fitr will help understand where and upon whom the liability lies.
From the question, it is assumed that the question is being asked from the side of a Masjid which collects the Zakatul Fitr to be dispensed over to needy.
There are two ways a Masjid could collect such zakatul fitr
a. Masjid already has a specified pool of eligible individuals on whose behalf they will collect the monies. If this is the case, the Masjid acts as a wakeel (agent) for those mustahiqqeen (eligible recipients).
In such a case, as soon as the Masjid takes possession of the monies, they take it on behalf of those recipients, and the dispenser’s duty of dispensing the zakatul fitr is fulfilled. Now, the masjid’s liability to make sure that the money reaches those recipients need to be fulfilled.
Even if they delay in it over the months, the dispensers zakatul fitr has been completed.
b. Masjid does not have such a pool of eligible recipient, rather Masjid diverts such Zakatul Fitr over to welfare program that feeds the needy.
In such case, first understand that the masjid becomes a wakeel for the dispenser at the time of taking possession of that zakatul fitr. This possession does not fulfil the dispenser religious duty of giving out Zakatul Fitr.
The Masjid and its Muwakkil (dispenser) remain liable in Shariah to dispense until their money actually reach a genuinely eligible recipient.
Secondly, utilizing the monies in a general open welfare program which benefits the needy, does not necessarily fulfil the liability. Since it is possible that the “needy” may not be Shar’an genuine recipient of such monies.
For a mosque, it is worth the effort to establish a full system of Zakat Recipient database with adequate checks and balances. I had penned out a small guidelines some years back. If interested, please do mention and I will share that insha’Allah.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi