Does fasting have a collective benefit? A – Yes, it has its collective benefits. From them are: The people feel they are one Ummah, they (all) eat at the same time and they (all) fast at the same time. The rich realize the blessings of Allah (upon them) and they sympathize towards the poor people. And, fasting minimizes Shaitan's traps for the son of Adam. And, there is Taqwa (consciousness/fear of Allah) in fasting and Taqwa strengthens the ties between the individual members of society. – Sheikh Bin Uthaymeen; Fatawa As-Siyam, p. 24 When Zakat is due Q- A person saved a sum of money from his own earnings. Most of it he possessed for a year, but he spent it on some things. Therefore, he asks whether it is obligatory for him to pay Zakat on it. A – Whatever wealth he saved or owned for a year while it had reached the minimum required amount, then Zakat is due on it. This is the case even if he spent some of it after that on marriage or anything similar. If he did not pay the Zakat of his wealth which was due upon, then it is still due from him and he is responsible for it. It is incumbent upon him to pay it. However, what he did not possess for a year of his wealth due to his spending from it before a year's time, then there is no Zakat due upon it. – Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 3, pp. 160-161 Zakat to sister Q – I have a sister who is married and she is a good woman. Is it permissible for me to pay a portion from the Zakat of my wealth to her to raise the level of her living and help her in rearing her children? This is particularly due to the fact that her husband does not care about anyone but himself, and we are tired of trying to rectify his situation. A – If she is poor, and her husband does not spend on her, and she is unable to rectify his situation, and there is no one to make him do that, then it permissble to give her from Zakat according to her need. – Sheikh Bin Baz; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 3, p. 190 __
