ISLAMABAD — According to Hanafi scholars, Zakat funds cannot be directly used to purchase machinery for hospitals unless the ownership is transferred to a rightful Zakat beneficiary. The principle of tamlīk, or granting ownership, is essential for the proper distribution of Zakat, and using Zakat solely for general welfare without establishing ownership is not considered valid.
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Scholars cite Tanweer al-Absar alaa al-Dur al-Mukhtar, which states that Zakat must make the poor person the owner of the asset, rather than merely allowing them to use it. This ruling implies that donations made for public welfare purposes, such as hospital equipment, cannot directly receive Zakat unless they fulfill this ownership requirement.
Practically, this means that machinery or medical devices, such as dialysis machines, MRI scanners, X-ray machines, or ultrasound devices, cannot be purchased directly for a hospital using Zakat funds. However, the funds can be used if the machinery is first granted as ownership to an eligible Zakat recipient, who can then donate or gift it to the hospital. This ensures that the assets remain within the guidelines of Islamic law.
For example, a kidney patient undergoing dialysis could be given ownership of a dialysis machine through Zakat funds. The patient can then donate it to a hospital for use. This approach allows both the individual patient and other hospital patients to benefit while maintaining compliance with Hanafi jurisprudence. Similarly, other hospital machines and medical equipment can be distributed through Zakat in this manner, ensuring that the assets serve those in genuine need without violating ownership rules.
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This structured method provides a practical solution for using Zakat to improve healthcare services while adhering to traditional Islamic principles regarding rightful ownership and the direct benefit of the poor.