Praise is due to Allāh, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our master Muḥammad, the last of prophets, on his family, and all his companions.

The Secretariat of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy is following with interest, through the various media, the tragedies experienced by the people of some Pakistani provinces, which have been affected by major floods in recent days, and is observing the enormous damage caused by the floods, which have led to the displacement of millions of people, who have lost their homes and possessions, and are in desperate need of shelter, food, drink and medicine.

Based on the duties of the brotherhood of faith and the Islamic principles, contained in the Holy Quran, and the Sunnah of the Prophet, which obliges the Muslim to help his Muslim brother, when he is exposed to adversity, hard trials and calamities, Allah said: (The believers are but brothers), Allah also said (Whoever guards against his own greed), Allah said: « And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. » Al-Ma’ida -2

The Messenger of Allah PBUH said: (Whoever protects a Muslim, Allah will protects him on the Day of Resurrection), he also said: (Allah helps the servant as long as the servant helps his brother).

This is addressed to Muslims throughout the world, individually and collectively, especially as we are in the holy month of Ramadhan, which the wisdom of his fast, is to make the Muslim feel the suffering of his Muslim brother; therefore, they are required to perform their duty to their brothers, affected by the severe floods in some provinces of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which has caused human and material damage, and destroyed agriculture and livestock. Those who are financially well off should deduct a part of their money and give it to them, and those who are not financially well off should save their expenses in order to save what they can offer in this case.

The Secretariat of the Academy, in addressing them through these words contained in this statement, emphasizes that what a Muslim offers to his Muslim brother, in such calamities and others, is not a charity and favor on his part, but rather the right of a Muslim over a Muslim, and a duty of the brotherhood of faith, and on the contrary, a Muslim who acts in this way, it is then considered a perfection of his faith. Therefore, it is not appropriate for Muslims not to help their brothers in such circumstances and leave them to suffer the effects of this disaster alone. The Prophet PBUH said: (He is not a believer who spends the night on a full stomach while his neighbour next to him is on an empty stomach). Thus, they should feel their sufferings, suffer for their pain, and stand by them, to overcome their distress. The Prophet PBUH said: (The example of the believers in their affection and mercy is like that of one body, if one part of it complains, the rest of the body responds to it with sleeplessness and fever), the Prophet also said: (A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts reinforce each other).

It should be noted that some scholars consider it permissible for a Muslim to give Zakat from his money to the people of a country other than the country where money originates, if the money in the country of Zakat exceeds the needs of its people, they also allowed him to give Zakat from his money to the people of his country who are most in need of it, such as those affected by disasters (floods, earthquakes, etc). The Council of the Academy has taken this into account in its Resolution No. 165 (3/18), concerning the Enhancement of the role of Zakat in Alleviating Poverty, where it is stated that: (It is permissible to provide financial assistance from Zakat funds through the establishment of a fund dedicated to assisting people displaced within or outside their countries, due to wars, floods, famines, earthquakes or others), He It also allowed a Muslim to give Zakat from his money, of those hearts are reconciled towards Islam (mualafutu qulubuhum), to non-Muslims afflicted in areas of disasters, earthquakes, floods and famines in order to reconcile their hearts.

On this basis, it is permissible for Muslims who have not paid Zakat on their money to pay part of it to the affected people. It should also be noted that there is no impediment, in accordance with Shariah, to the saying of some scholars who see the permissibility of expediting Zakat, for a Muslim whose time to pay Zakat out of his money has not yet come, to hasten to pay the whole or part of it, to the people affected, and then he would be like the one who has paid it on time.

In conclusion, the Secretariat of the Academy commends the positions of Muslim countries, which rushed to help the people of Pakistan in this crisis, and also thanks the non-Muslim countries for their help to the people of Pakistan, while praying to Allah the Almighty, to protect the Muslim countries from any harm, and also prays to Allah to gather the word of the Muslims and to unite their ranks, and to guide them, rulers and peoples, to what He loves.

And may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.

IIFA Secretariat