Zakaat left overs after operation

Question ID: 
2144
riz***@hotmail.com asks:

Question

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabatakatuh.

(Please help me on this issue on email only. )
I recently had to go for surgery in India and family, friends and strangers on social media helped me out with financial aid in order to undergo the treatment and surgery required for my health. I am now back to mauritius alhamdulillah, with my surgery being successful.
There is a small amount of money that is left from the donations (from non-believers)/zakaat (from believers). Am i allowed to keep this money as personal property cause this money i never personally asked for it. My friend was the one who took all my information and posted it on social media then people were willingly collecting money to send to me.
Also, should i remove zakaat from this money?
INSHAALLAH you help me out on this matter.
Jazakallah.

Answer

Walaikum salaam wa rahmatullah wa barakaatuh,

With regards to your query, we believe that you were a recipient of zakaat and that zakaat money as well as other money was given to you in order to finance your operation. Since the money was transferred into your ownership, you have become the sole owner of the money. Henceforth, it's considered your money and you are free to use it however you like. You can keep it or give it into Sadqah.
The same ruling will apply to zakaat. That is, it will be zakaatable if all the conditions of giving Zakaat are found.

And Allah knows best

Answered by:
(Mf) Bilal
For the Jamiatul Ulama of Mauritius