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Zakat for medical purposes
Question
Many babies are born with hearing impairments and need to undergo cochlear implant surgery within the first few months of their life or completely lose their hearing and language skills. The operation costs 100, 000 EGP approximately. The General Authority for Health Insurance pays 45, 000 EGP while the parents must come up with the rest—a daunting prospect for many families. For this reason, the Relief Committee at the Egyptian Medical Syndicate in cooperation with the General Authority for Health Insurance at Alexandria intends to implement the Project for Cochlear Implants.
We would like to know whether it is permissible to distribute zakat towards this cause?
Answer
It is legally permissible to give zakat to those patients who cannot cover the cost of cochlear implant surgery themselves and neither can their families. This is because these patients fall under the poor and the destitute, two of the categories of permissible recipients of zakat. The cost of treatment for the poor and the destitute are included under the expenditures legitimately covered by zakat.
Allah the Almighty knows best.
