*RECIPIENTS OF ZAKAT*
Praise be to Allah.
Zakât is paid to deserving individuals who come under one or more of eight zakatable categories designated by God in the Quran.
''Indeed, [prescribed] charitable offerings are only [to be given] to the poor and the indigent, and to those who work on [administering] it, and to those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to [free] those in bondage, and to the debt-ridden, and for the cause of God, and to the wayfarer. [This is] an obligation from God. And God is all-knowing, all-wise.'' (Al-Tawbah, 9:60)
The Quran specifies how Zakât is to be distributed precisely, but grants Muslims maximum flexibility in its collection.
On one hand, this guarantees the right of the needful. On the other, it accommodates inevitable changes and variation in stores of wealth, effective distribution mechanisms, and diverse societies through time and in different places in the world.
Trustworthy Muslim institutions collect and distribute Zakât to the deserving they identify as belonging to one or more of the zakatable categories prescribed in the Quran.
It is noteworthy that Allah, Himself, identified for Zakât payers and administrators the eight human categories of Zakât disbursement—leaving this neither to ruler, nor to scholar, nor to the Prophet Å“ himself. It is reported that a man once came to the Prophet and asked him Zakât. The Prophet said:
''Allah permitted not even a prophet to adjudge
Zakât-[worthiness]. Rather, He Himself ruled on
it and permitted it in eight cases. Therefore, if you
belong to any of these, I shall most surely give you
your right.'' (Abû Dâ’ûd)
The eight categories of eligible Zakât recipients follow:
1. The poor (al-fuqarâ’)
2. The needy (al-masâkîn)
3. Zakât-workers
4. Those whose hearts are to be reconciled
5. Those in bondage (slaves and captives)
6. The debt-ridden
7. In the cause of God
8. The wayfarer (the stranded, or one traveling who lacks resources)
We ask Allah to increase us in Imaan, Knowledge, and Understanding of Islam.
Praise be to Allah.
Zakât is paid to deserving individuals who come under one or more of eight zakatable categories designated by God in the Quran.
''Indeed, [prescribed] charitable offerings are only [to be given] to the poor and the indigent, and to those who work on [administering] it, and to those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to [free] those in bondage, and to the debt-ridden, and for the cause of God, and to the wayfarer. [This is] an obligation from God. And God is all-knowing, all-wise.'' (Al-Tawbah, 9:60)
The Quran specifies how Zakât is to be distributed precisely, but grants Muslims maximum flexibility in its collection.
On one hand, this guarantees the right of the needful. On the other, it accommodates inevitable changes and variation in stores of wealth, effective distribution mechanisms, and diverse societies through time and in different places in the world.
Trustworthy Muslim institutions collect and distribute Zakât to the deserving they identify as belonging to one or more of the zakatable categories prescribed in the Quran.
It is noteworthy that Allah, Himself, identified for Zakât payers and administrators the eight human categories of Zakât disbursement—leaving this neither to ruler, nor to scholar, nor to the Prophet Å“ himself. It is reported that a man once came to the Prophet and asked him Zakât. The Prophet said:
''Allah permitted not even a prophet to adjudge
Zakât-[worthiness]. Rather, He Himself ruled on
it and permitted it in eight cases. Therefore, if you
belong to any of these, I shall most surely give you
your right.'' (Abû Dâ’ûd)
The eight categories of eligible Zakât recipients follow:
1. The poor (al-fuqarâ’)
2. The needy (al-masâkîn)
3. Zakât-workers
4. Those whose hearts are to be reconciled
5. Those in bondage (slaves and captives)
6. The debt-ridden
7. In the cause of God
8. The wayfarer (the stranded, or one traveling who lacks resources)
We ask Allah to increase us in Imaan, Knowledge, and Understanding of Islam.