Question: 

If there is accumulated interest in a Zakaat account, then can we leave it there and continue using all the funds as per Zakaat eligibility because the recipients are the same or do we have to remove the interest all the time?

Also, if a person himself is Zakaat eligible and he has accumulated interest in his bank account,   can he himself use that money? 

Answer: 

1. Both the funds are dissimilar in the sight of Shariah and, therefore, dealt dissimilarly. Zakat wealth is Halal/pure while the interest amount is an Haraam/abominated wealth. The former is discharged with the intention of reward and the latter without the intention of reward. Therefore, one should not combine them but rather discharge them separately regardless of their recipients being from the same category.i In conclusion yes, the interest will have to be removed each time it accumulates and discharged accordingly to the poor without any intention of reward.

2. He should not benefit from the interest money himself. Thus, instead of utilising the money himself, he should give it to the poor and underprivileged without the intention of reward.ii

AND ALLAH TA’AALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST

ANSWERED BY: Mohsin Khan 

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B. 

Islamic Date: ٢١ ذو القعدة ١٤٤١ 

English Date: 13 July 2020

iوَأَحَل اللََُّّ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ال رِبََ ...سورة البقرة / ٢75

)ولا يجوز أداء الزكاة إلا بنية مقارنة للأداء( ولو حكماً، كما لو دفع بلا نية در. )أو مقارنة لعزل مقدار الواجب( ؛ لأن الزكاة عبادة وكان من شرطها النية.. اللباب ص ١٣7 ج ١ ط: المكتبة العلمية

ii عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللََِّّ صلى الله عليه وسلم آكِلَ ال رِبََ وَمُوكِلَهُ وَكَاتِبَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ وَقَالَ هُمْ سَوَاءٌ ...رواه مسلم رقم الحديث ١5٩٨

والحاصل أنه إن علم أربَب الأموال وجب رده عليهم، وإلا فإن علم عين الحرام لا يحل له ويتصدق به بنية صاحبه... شامي ص ٩٩ ج 5 ط: سعيد

* سود کو بینک میں رہنے دیں یا نکال کر غریبوں کو دے دیں ؟ بینک سے سود کی رقم لے کر کسی ضرورت مند کو دے دی جائے،مگر صدقہ خیرات کی نیت نہ کی جائےبلکہ ایک نجس چیز کو اپنی ملک سے نکالنے کی جائے... آپ كے مسائل اور انکا حل ص ٣٢٢ ج ٨ ب ه لدهب ا نوی