Fatwa No : 30000
Giving Charity to Seyeds

Giving Charity to Seyeds

I would like the answers to a few questions. The questions are as follows:
(1) Can a Seyed give Sadaqatul-Fitr, Zakat or meat from his animal sacrifice to his Seyed relatives?
(2) About 10 or 12 people came together and established a welfare fund. Two or three of them are Seyed. People contribute their Zakat, Sadaqatul-Fitr, and also voluntary charity (Nafli Sadaqa) to this fund, and then this money is used to assist people. Can this money –which is mixed with different types of Sadaqa-- be used to assist a Seyed family? Because, everyone was given wealth from the Baitul-Mal. Therefore, in a similar manner, can an organization use different types of Sadaqa to assist people?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It is not permissible for a Seyed to give any form of mandatory alms to his Sayed relative, however, he can offer him money as a gift or as voluntary charity. Nonetheless, since a welfare fund is not considered as a Baitul-Mal, the administrators or managers of a welfare fund cannot use the money Zakat and other forms of mandatory alms to assist Seyeds or those who are not eligible for Zakat, nor can they use it to pay their workers, or assist in other types of works (such as building masjids etc.). This money can only be used to assist those who are eligible for Zakat.
However, the money of voluntary charity can be used to assist Seyeds and for works other than assisting those eligible for Zakat.