How do we know if a recipient of Zakat is poor or needy?
The opinion of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence is that Zakat is given to someone whose Zakatable assets are below the nisab value whilst also not having any surplus assets i.e. extra house, extra car, extra mobile etc.
According to the other schools i.e. Malikis, Shafi’is and Hanbalis, someone without enough wealth to pay for necessities of life, is eligible to receive Zakat. This is irrespective of the fact that the amount they currently have in their possession is below or above the nisab value.
NZF adopts the Hanafi position. Every applicant to NZF, regardless of the fund they apply to, is asked to prove that they fall below the Shari’a standard of poverty (Nisab) before we can make the grant. (note: In the Education fund, eligible applicants must be below the nisab after course fees are paid). Applicants must provide bank statements or provide us access to their bank accounts via an Online Banking Portal so we can check their information is genuine.
And Allah knows best!
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