To whom should we give Zakaat?

Almighty Allah has described 8 avenues where Zakaat can be spent.  It is mentioned in the Holy Quran:

 

Indeed, alms (Zakaat) are meant for the poor and the indigent, and those who are deployed to collect charities and those in whose hearts the inculcation of love for Islam is aimed at. And, (moreover, spending Zakat for the) freeing of human lives (from the yoke of slavery) and removing the burden of those who are to pay debt and (those who toil hard) in the cause of Allah and the wayfarers (is true). This (all) has been prescribed by Allah, and Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise.  Surah Tauba (9:60)

 

Now let us look in detail at some of these avenues so that it becomes clear where Zakaat can be spent.  If Zakaat is spent somewhere else, then it won’t be valid and has to be given again.

 

The poor folk

 

In the terminology of the Shariah, poor people (Faqeer) are those people who don’t have 60 grams 755 milligrams of gold or 425 grams 285 milligrams of silver or its equivalent amount in cash or in trade goods.  As given in Al Bahr Ur Raaiq, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 419.

 

The destitute folk

 

In the terminology of the Shariah the destitute people (Miskeen) are those people who don’t own anything.  As mentioned in Al Bahr Ur Raaiq, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 419.

 

The officials

 

Officials are those people who have been deputed by the (Islamic) government to collect Zakaat, etc.  As mentioned in Fatawa A’alamgiri, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 188.

 

For softening of hearts

 

In the earliest era of Islam, to soften the hearts of the people towards Islam, Zakaat used to be given.  However, now that Islam has acquired dominance and majesty, truth and falsehood have been clearly delineated, this command has been abrogated.  As given in Durre Mukhtaar and Radd Ul Muhtaar (Kitaab Uz Zakaat)

 

For freeing of slaves

 

In the previous times, people used to have slaves and slave-girls.  Human beings would be bought and sold.  In this regard, the Shariah had permitted the use of Zakaat to free them.  However, as in today’s world, there is no slavery, thus it is not possible practically to use Zakaat in this avenue.

 

As mentioned in Fatawa A’alamgiri, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 185.

 

The indebted folk

 

The indebted folk (Gharimeen) are those people who have debts to clear and after clearing the debts, they don’t have money which meets the criterion of Zakaat.  It also means those folk who have debts to clear and have no means to do so.  It is better to give the Zakaat to the indebted folk than to a poor person.  As mentioned in Fatawa A’alamgiri, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 188.

 

In the path of Allah

 

This means helping those people who strive in the path of Allah and are poor and needy, like people going on Hajj who have been stranded due to paucity of provisions, soldiers who can’t join the army due to lack of provisions, those students who are acquiring Islamic sciences and every person who is needy and is striving in the path of Allah.  As mentioned in Radd Ul Muhtaar, Kitaab Uz Zakaat.

 

The travelers

 

It means those travelers whose provisions have ended.  As mentioned in Fatawa A’alamgiri, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 188.

 

In all the aforementioned avenues of Zakaat, the 4^th avenue is abrogated and the 5^th one is not at all possible in these times.  It is valid to spent Zakaat in any of the remaining 6 avenues.  It is not necessary to spend it in all 6.

 

The command to give the Zakaat to one’s relatives

 

One can’t give Zakaat to one’s parents, one’s grandparents, great grandparents and so on.  In the same way, one can’t give Zakaat to one’s children, one’s grandchildren, one’s great grandchildren and so on.  Also husband and wife can’t give Zakaat to each other.  Apart from them, one can give Zakaat to all other relatives, provided they are needy and they are not from the family of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  It is more preferable to give Zakaat to one’s relatives than to other people.

 

In this one will receive a two-fold reward, one of giving Zakaat and the other of kind treatment of relatives.  As mentioned in the following Hadith of Jame’ Tirmidhi:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Rabaab narrates on the authority of her paternal uncle Salman bin A’amir (May Allah be well pleased with him) and he relates from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:….Spending on a needy person is charity and spending on relatives includes both charity and kind treatment.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 660)