Wrong priorities yet evading their mistakes

[Zainab_M]

On 27th of Ramadan, Brother Farhad Khadim gave a nice lecture live through webinar online.  The online audience were allowed to send him their questions.  Though I didn't have any specific questions on his lecture, I did have a lingering one about the way our 'scholars' handle the issue of zakah.  Thus, I sent the following question to Br. Farhad.

"Alhamdulilah, this was a very good lecture which I found very useful.  
My only question is on charity (Zakah).  Here in North America, leaders of Muslim communities who ask for Zakah, is almost always for the purpose of beautifying the existing community centers, schools and mosques.  Instead of this over emphasis on making these structures look plush and opulent, wouldn't it please Allah (The Most High) a lot more if charity was spent directly on the poor and needy.  After all, even in North America there are plenty of poor Muslim families living on welfare or very small personal incomes who can barely afford two healthy meals a day.  Why not spend more of Zakah on buying food, clothes and medicines for these humble families instead of extending the boundaries of schools and mosques with 5-star decors?   Not to mention, all this beautification often makes our Muslim schools so expensive that only the well-to-do Muslim families can afford to send their children there.  As believers in Allah, isn't it time for us to re-arrange our priorities?


Brother Farhad's response was as follows:

"Assalaamu Alaikum, dear sister.
Thank you for your response. I have sent your question to our scholars and they will respond as soon as possible."


But I know for certain they won't respond, just as Br. Farhad himself had nothing to say on it.  It they do, it will be nothing short of  miracle!