THOSE DESERVING OF 'ZAKAT'

There are eight categories of people who have been described in the Holy Qur'an as entitled to receive Zakat. Their details are:

1.     "Fuqara“ (the destitutes)

These are those people who do have some money but not sufficient to meet their needs. They live in straitened circumstances and do not beg from anybody. This definition has been given by Imam Zuhri, Imam Abu Hanifa, Ibne Abbas, Hasan Basri, other eminent scholars of the past.

2.     "Masakin" (The poor)

These are the very miserable people who have nothing with them to fulfil the needs of their body. Hadrat 'Umar had also included those among the needy whho are fit to earn but do not get employment.

3.     'Amain alaiha' (Those who are deputed to collect Zakat)

These are the people who are appointed by an islamic government to collect Zakat. They are to be paid from Zakat fund.

4.     "Muallafat-ul-qulub" (Those who hearts are to be reconciled)

From this are meant those people whom it may be necessary to give money to seek support of Islam or to prevent them from opposing Islam. With them are also included those Muslim converts who need to be satisfied. If a person by leaving his community of unbelievers and then towing the ranks of Muslims becomes unemployed or recorded destitute, it is, of course, incumbent on Muslims to help him but if he is a wealthy person even then Zakat can be given to him so that his heart becomes firm iii Islam. On the occasion of the war of Hunain, the Holy Prophet (peace he on him) gave from the booty a lot of material to Muslim converts so much so that for each person the shale amounted to a hundred camels. The Ansars complained against it on which the Holy Prophet said:

"These people have just now entered Islam after giving up want to please their hearts.”On this very basis imam Zuhri has thus defined in Muallafat-ul-Qulub: "Any Christian or Jew or non-Muslim who has entered Islam, though he may be a wealthy man."'

This is not the occasion to speak on the juristic controversies arsing from this problem. We have discussed this question to detail in out book the Meaning of Qur’an, Vol. IV in the course of commentary on Surah Taubah.

5.     "Fir-riqab" (For the emancipation of slaves)

This means that a person who wants to free himself from the shackles of slavery should be given Zakat so that he may release his neck from bondage by giving money to his master. In these days the system of slavery is non-existent. Therefore I think that those people, who are undergoing imprisonment for their inability to pay the fine imposed by courts, can be helped to secure release with the money of Zakat. This also falls under the definition of Fir-riqab.

6.     "Al-Gharimin" (For relieving one from the burden of debt)

This means those people who are in debt. It does not mean that Zakat can be given to a person who has a thousand rupees with him and has to pay a debt of one hundred rupees, but it means that Zakat can be given to that person who is indebted so much that after paying off the loan what remains with him falls below the figure on which Zakat is legible. The learned jurists have also said that it is not advisable to give Zakat to a person who has fallen in debt due to extravagance and illicit habits, because in such a case he will indulge in prodigality and illicit pursuits with greater temerity, being confident of receiving Zakat to clear off his debt.

7.     "Fi-Sabilillah" (In the cause of Allah)

This is a common word used in relation to all good deeds hut, in particular, it means rendering help to an endeavour on to raise aloft the banner of God's religion. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that it is not permissible for any wealthy person to take Zakat but if a wealthy person requires help for the sake of Jihad, he must be given Zakat because a man may be wealthy by himself he is unable to defray from his own pocket all the extraordinary expenses entailed in Jihad. It is necessary to help him in this work from Zakat.

8.     Ibn-us-Sabil (Wayfarer)

A wayfarer may have any amount of money in his home but if he is in need of money while travelling, he must be Oven Zakat.