Question:
QUESTION: I have saved some money in Bank (amount of X_yen), the bank work with my money and give me a benefit of 0.02 every year (i.e., X_yen + 0.02)(the condition is not to ask for my money in a period of 5 years).
Is the 0.2 I get from the bank can be used for Zakat?
The answer:
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
Depositing money in the bank in return for interest is riba (usury), which is a major sin. Allah says:
“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Ribaa (from now onward) if you are (really) believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums)” [al-Baqarah 2:278-279]
Secondly:
If a Muslim is forced to put his money in the bank, because he cannot find any other means of keeping his money safe apart from putting it in the bank,
So it is not permissible to make use of the interest (riba) which the banks pay to their customers. You must get rid of it by donating it to charitable causes.
You can keep only the original amount and do not give the interest (riba) back to the bank, also do not keep it but donate the extra to charity, to the poor and needy or for renovating public facilities etc.
Thirdly:
The interest (riba) is Haram and Zakat is not due on haram wealth, nor is it valid, because it does not really belong to the one who in whose possession it is, and one of the conditions of zakat is that the wealth should belong to the person. And Allah is Good and accepts nothing but that which is good.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “O people, Allah is Good and only accepts that which is good. Allah commanded the pious to follow the same commandments as He gave to the Messengers. He says:
‘O (you) Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibaat [all kinds of Halaal (lawful) foods which Allaah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables, fruits)] and do righteous deeds. Verily, I am Well-Acquainted with what you do’ [al-Mu’minoon 23:51]
‘O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allah — Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with’ [al-Baqarah 2:172].
Then he mentioned a man who has travelled on a long journey and is dishevelled and covered with dust; he stretches forth his hands to the heaven, (saying) “O Lord, O Lord”, but his food is haram, his drink is haram, all his nourishment is haram, so how can his du’aa’ be accepted?” Narrated by Muslim.
It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (23/248):
Haram wealth, such as that which is taken by stealing, seizing by force, bribery or riba etc does not really belong to the one in whose possession it is, and he does not have to pay zakat on it, because zakat is due on things that actually belong to a person. And zakat is a purification for the one who pays it and for the wealth of the one who pays it, because Allah says:
“Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it” [al-Tawbah 9:103]
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah does not accept zakat from any haram wealth.” So haram wealth is all impure and cannot be purified. End quote.
We ask Allah The Almighty to bring the Muslims back to their Deen.
And Allah knows best
Mohsen Shaker Bayoumy

Imam of Osaka Ibaraki Mosque