Surah Tawbah ayat 60 Tafsir Quran 9:60

﴿۞ إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ﴾
[ التوبة: 60]

9:60 Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.

The voluntary almsgivings the alms to be dispensed are only for the poor who cannot find anything to suffice them in the least and the needy who cannot find anything to suffice them and those who work with them that is with these alms in other words the one who collects them the one who takes the oaths from those who claim them the slave to be manumitted by contract as well as the tax-summoner; and those whose hearts are to be reconciled so that they might become Muslims or that Islam might be firmly established or that their peers might become Muslims or that they might defend Muslims all of whom are classed according to different categories. According to al-Shāfi‘ī may God be pleased with him the first and the last of these categories are no longer given of the alms-tax today because of the established power of Islam; in contrast the other two categories are given of the alms-tax according to the sounder opinion; and for the manumission of slaves that is for slaves to be manumitted by contract and for the debtors those in debt if they have taken out a debt without intending thereby an act of disobedience or those who have repented but have nothing with which to fulfil the penalty of expiation or to set things right between people even if they be wealthy; and for the way of God that is for those who are engaged in the struggle of those for whom there is no share of the booty fay’ even if they be wealthy; and for the traveller the one cut off from resources during his journey — a duty imposed by God farīdatan ‘a duty’ is in the accusative because of an implied verb sc. faradahā ‘which He has imposed’. And God is Knower of His creatures Wise in His actions. Thus it is impermissible to dispense these alms-proceeds other than to these categories or to deny these proceeds to any one of these categories if they exist. The Imam must divide these proceeds among them equally but he is permitted to give priority to certain individuals over others within any one category. The lām of li’l-fuqarā’ ‘for the poor’ indicates that it is obligatory to include every individual of these categories in the distribution of the proceeds; it is not however obligatory to do so when the person in charge of the monies has to apportion it but finds that it is insufficient. Indeed in such a situation it suffices to give three individuals from each category but anything less than that is not sufficient as is indicated by the plural form. The Sunna shows that the prerequisite condition for receiving a share of such monies is that the person be a Muslim but not a Hashimī or a Muttālibī.

(Zakat is but a vehicle of prayers; it is due only to:a) The poor who are destitute of means of livelihood andb) The needy who are in temporary distress due to sickness, disability or the like.c) Those who are engaged as collectors and administrators thereof andd) Those who have just reconciled themselves with their own hearts and with Allah,e) Those in bondage -who are eager to buy their freedom-f) Those in debt -who are genuinely unable to pay what is owed to others-g) The support of the cause of Allah andh) And the wayfarer -who does not have the means for transportation and has to travel on foot.This is an obligation incumbent on Muslims and dutiful to Allah

Expenditures of Zakah ( Alms ) After Allah mentioned the protest that the ignorant hypocrites mentioned to the Prophet about the distribution of alms.
He stated that it is He who divided the alms, explained its rulings and decided in its division; He did not delegate this decision to anyone else.
Allah mentioned the expenditures of Zakah in this Ayah, starting with the Fuqara' ( the poor ) because they have more need than the other categories, since their need is pressing and precarious.
It was reported that Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ibn Zayd and several others said that the Faqir is a graceful person who does not ask anyone for anything, while the Miskin is the one who follows after people, begging.
Qatadah said, "The Faqir is the ill person, while the Miskin is physically fit." We will now mention the Hadiths about each of these eight categories The Fuqara' ( Poor ) Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَا تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيَ وَلَا لِذِي مِرَّةٍ سَوِي»
( The alms should not be given to the wealthy and the physically fit. ) Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi collected this Hadith. The Masakin ( Needy ) Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِهَذَا الطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي يَطُوفُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَرُدُّهُ اللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ، وَالتَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَان»
قالوا: فمن المسكين يا رسول الله؟ قال:
«الَّذِي لَا يَجِدُ غِنًى يُغْنِيهِ، وَلَا يُفْطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَا يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا»
( The needy person is not the one who goes round the people and asks them for a mouthful or two (of meals ) or a date or two).
They asked, "Then who is the needy person, O Allah's Messenger!" He said, ( The one who does not have enough to satisfy his needs and whose condition is not known to others, that others may give him something in charity, and who does not beg of people. ) The Two Shaykhs collected this Hadith Those employed to collect Alms Those employed to collect alms deserve a part of the alms, unless they are relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who are not allowed to accept any Sadaqah.
Muslim recorded that `Abdul-Muttalib bin Rabi`ah bin Al-Harith and Al-Fadl bin Al-`Abbas went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asking him to employ them to collect the alms.
The Messenger ﷺ replied,
«إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِمُحَمَّدٍ وَلَا لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَوْسَاخُ النَّاس»
( Verily, the alms are not allowed for Muhammad nor the relatives of Muhammad, for it is only the dirt that the people discard. ) Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum There are several types of Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum.
There are those who are given alms to embrace Islam.
For instance, the Prophet of Allah gave something to Safwan bin Umayyah from the war spoils of Hunayn, even though he attended it while a Mushrik.
Safwan said, "He kept giving me until he became the dearest person to me after he had been the most hated person to me." Imam Ahmad recorded that Safwan bin Umayyah said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave me ( from the spoils of ) Hunayn while he was the most hateful person to me.
He kept giving me until he became the most beloved person to me." Muslim and At-Tirmidhi collected this Hadith, as well.
Some of Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum are given from alms so that they become better in Islam and their heart firmer in faith.
For instance, the Prophet gave some of the chiefs of the Tulaqa' a hundred camels each after the battle of Hunayn, saying,
«إِنِّي لَأُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ وَغَيْرُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْهُ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يُكِبَّهُ اللهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّم»
( I give a man (from the alms ) while another man is dearer to me than him, for fear that Allah might throw him on his face in the fire of Jahannam.) It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Sa`id said that `Ali sent the Messenger of Allah a gold nugget still in its dirt from Yemen.
The Prophet divided it between four men: Al-Aqra` bin Habis, `Uyaynah bin Badr, `Alqamah bin `Ulathah and Zayd Al-Khayr, saying,
«أَتَأَلَّفُهُم»
( To draw their hearts closer. ) Some people are given because some of his peers might embrace Islam, while others are given to collect alms from surrounding areas, or to defend Muslim outposts.
Allah knows best. The Riqab Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Muqatil bin Hayyan, `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz, Sa`id bin Jubayr, An-Nakha`i, Az-Zuhri and Ibn Zayd said Riqab means those slaves who make an agreement with the master to pay a certain ransom for their freedom." Similar was reported from Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari.
Ibn `Abbas and Al-Hasan said, "It is allowed to use Zakah funds to buy the freedom of slaves," indicating that `Riqab' has more general meanings than merely giving money to slaves to buy their freedom or one's buying a slave and freeing him on an individual basis.
A Hadith states that for every limb of the servant freed, Allah frees a limb of the one who freed him from slavery, even a sexual organ for a sexual organ, for the reward is equitable to the deed, وَمَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ( And you will be requited nothing except for what you used to do. ) 37:39 Virtue of freeing Slaves In the Musnad, there is a Hadith from Al-Bara' bin `Azib that a man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Direct me to an action that draws me closer to Paradise and away from the Fire." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«أَعْتِقِ النَّسَمَةَ وَفُكَّ الرَّقَبَة»
( Emancipate the person and free the neck (slave ).) The man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Are they not one and the same" He said,
«لَا، عِتْقُ النَّسَمَةِ أَنْ تُفْرِدَ بِعِتْقِهَا، وَفَكُّ الرَّقَبَةِ أَنْ تُعِينَ فِي ثَمَنِهَا»
( No, you emancipate a person by freeing him on your own, but you untie a neck (slave ) by helping in its price.) Al-Gharimun ( the Indebted ) There are several types of indebted persons.
They include those who incur expenses in solving disputes between people, those who guarantee a loan that became due, causing financial strain to them, and those whose funds do not sufficiently cover their debts.
It also includes those who indulged in a sin and repented from it.
These types have a right to a part of alms designated for Al-Gharimun.
Qabisah bin Mukhariq Al-Hilali said, "I carried a debt resolving a dispute between people and went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asking him to help pay it.
The Messenger ﷺ said,
«أَقِمْ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَنَا الصَّدَقَةُ فَنَأْمُرَ لَكَ بِهَا»
( Be patient until some alms are brought to us so that we give it to you. ) He then said,
«يَا قَبِيصَةُ إِنَّ الْمَسْأَلَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ إِلَّا لِأَحَدِ ثَلَاثَةٍ: رَجُلٍ تَحَمَّلَ حَمَالَةً فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَهَا ثُمَّ يُمْسِكَ، وَرَجُلٍ أَصَابَتْهُ جَائِحَةٌ اجْتَاحَتْ مَالَهُ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ أَوْ قَالَ: سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ وَرَجُلٍ أَصَابَتْهُ فَاقَةٌ حَتَّى يَقُومَ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنْ ذَوِي الْحِجَا مِنْ قَرَابَةِ قَوْمِهِ فَيَقُولُونَ: لَقَدْ أَصَابَتْ فُلَانًا فَاقَةٌ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ، حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ أَوْ قَالَ: سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ فَمَا سِوَاهُنَّ مِنَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ سُحْتٌ يَأْكُلُهَا صَاحِبُهَا سُحْتًا»
( O Qabisah! Begging is only allowed for three: a man who incurred debts solving disputes, so he is allowed to beg until he collects its amount and then stops.
A man who was inflicted by a disaster that consumed his wealth, he is allowed to beg until he collects what suffices for his livelihood.
And a man who was overcome by poverty, that three wise relatives of his stand up and proclaim, `So-and-so was overcome by poverty.' This man is allowed to beg until he collects what sustains his livelihood.
Other than these cases, begging is an unlawful amount that one illegally devours. ) Muslim collected this Hadith.
Abu Sa`id said, "During the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , a man was struck by disaster because of fruits that he bought, causing him extensive debts.
The Prophet said,
«تَصَدَّقُوا عَلَيْه»
( Give him charity. ) The people did that but the amount collected did not cover his debts.
The Prophet said to the man's debtors,
«خُذُوا مَا وَجَدْتُمْ وَلَيْسَ لَكُمْ إِلَّا ذَلِك»
( Take what was collected, you will have nothing beyond that. )" Muslim collected this Hadith. In the Cause of Allah In the cause of Allah is exclusive for the benefit of the fighters in Jihad, who do not receive compensation from the Muslim Treasury. Ibn As-Sabil ( Wayfarer ) Ibn As-Sabil is a term used for the needy traveler in a land, where he does not have what helps him continue his trip.
This type has a share in the Zakah for what suffices him to reach his destination, even if he had money there.
The same is true for whoever intends to travel from his area but does not have enough money.
This type also has a share in the Zakah money to suffice for his trip and back.
This is proven in the Ayah as well as the following Hadith.
Imams Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah recorded that Ma`mar said that Zayd bin Aslam said that `Ata' bin Yasar said that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَا تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيَ إِلَّا لِخَمْسَةٍ: لِعَامِلٍ عَلَيْهَا، أَوْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَاهَا بِمَالِهِ، أَوْ غَارِمٍ، أَوْ غَازٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، أَوْ مِسْكِينٍ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهَا فَأَهْدَى لِغَنِي»
( Sadaqah is not rightful for a wealthy person except in five cases: those employed to collect it, one who bought a charity item with his money, a Gharim (debtor ), a fighter in the cause of Allah, or a poor man who gets a part of the Zakah so he gives it as a gift to a rich man.) Allah's statement, فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( a duty imposed by Allah ), means, a decision, decree and division ordained by Allah, وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ( And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise ), knowledgeable of all things outwardly and inwardly and what benefits His servants, حَكِيمٌ ( All-Wise ), in all what he declares, does, legislates and decides, there is no true deity or lord except Him.

(9:60) As a matter of fact, Zakat collections are only for the needy *61 and the indigent, *62 and for those who are employed to collect them *63 and for those whose hearts are to be won over *64 and for the ransoming of slaves *65 and for helping the debtors *66 and for the way of Allah *67 and for the hospitality of the wayfarers. *68 This is an obligatory duty from Allah: and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Zakah expenditures are only for the poor meaning

*61) According to the Arabic usage ( fuqara: the needy ) are all those people who depend on others for the necessities of life.
The Arabic word fuqara'.
is a general word for all those who are needy because of some physical defects, or old age, or temporarily, and can become self-supporting if they are helped.
e.g.
orphans, widows, the unemployed, etc.
, etc.

*62) According to the Arabic usage( masakin ) are those indigent people who are in greater distress than the needy people usually are.
The Holy Prophet especially enjoined the Muslims to help such people as are unable to find the necessary means to satisfy their wants and are in very straitened circumstances, but are so self-respecting that they would not beg for anything nor would others judge from their outward appearance that they were deserving people.
According to a Tradition " Miskin is one who cannot make both ends meet, though his appearance does not show that he needs help nor does he beg for help. " In short, he is a self-respecting man who has become needy.

*63) " ....who arc employed to collect them.... " are those who collect Zakat dues, supervise the collections and keep accounts, and help in their distribution, irrespective of the fact whether or not they are needy or indigent; their remunerations shall be paid out of the Zakat Funds.
In this connection it should be noted well that the Holy Prophet had declared the Zakat Funds to be unlawful for himself and for the members of his own family ( Bani Hashim ).
Accordingly, he never received any remuneration for collecting or distributing Zakat Funds.
As regards the other members of Bani Hashim, they were allowed to do this service without receiving any remuneration, but otherwise it is unlawful for them.
On the contrary, the payment of the Zakat dues was obligatory on Bani Hashim if their possessions warranted this under the prescribed limits, but under no circumstances whatsoever were they allowed to accept anything out of zakat collected from others.

There is, however, a difference of opinion as to whether they should accept anything out of the collections made from their own family or not.
Imam Abu Yusuf opines that they are allowed to accept these when they are needy or poor or wayfarers, but the majority of the Jurists regard this also unlawful.

*64) A portion of Zakat Funds may also be given to win over to Islam those who might be engaged in anti-lslamic activities or to those in the camp of the unbelievers who might be brought to help the Muslims or to those newly converted Muslims, who might be inclined to revert to kufr if no monetary help was extended to them.
It is permissible to award pensions to them or give them lump sums of money to make them helpers of Islam or submissive to it or at least to render them into harmless enemies.
A portion of the spoils or other incomes may be spent on them and, if need be, also a portion of Zakat Funds.
In such cases, the condition of being needy or indigent or on a journey etc., is also waived; nay, they might be even rich people or chiefs who are otherwise not eligible for anything from Zakat Funds.

All are agreed that during the time of the Holy Prophet pensions and gifts were given under the head of 'winning over people', but there is a difference of opinion whether this head of expenditure was abolished or not after his death.
Imam Abu Hanifah and his followers are of the opinion that it was abolished during the Caliphate of Hadrat `Umar, and `now it is not lawful to spend anything under this head'.
Imam Shafi`i is of the opinion that something tray be given to j sinful Muslims under this head from Zakat Funds but not to unbelievers, while other Jurists arc of the opinion that expenses under this head are lawful even now, if a need arises for them.

The Hanafis base their opinion on an incident that happened after the death of the Holy Prophet.
`Uyainah bin Hisan and Aqra`a bin Habis came to Hadrat Abu Bakr and asked him to allot to them a certain piece of land.
So he gave them a written order for this.
They took it to some other highly placed Companions for further confirmation and some of them endorsed this order.
But when they took it to Hadrat `Umar, he tore the paper into pieces before their very eyes, saying, " It is true that the Holy Prophet used to give something to win over your hearts because Islam was weak at that time, but now Allah has made Islam so strong that it does not stand in need of people like you.
" At this they went to Hadrat Abu Bakr and complained to him about it and taunted him, saying, " Are you the Caliph or `Umar? " But he took no notice of this nor did any of the Companions differ with Hadrat `Umar's opinion.
The Hanafis conclude from this incident that when the number and power of Muslims increased by the grace of Allah and they no longer stood in need of any support from such people; the reason for which expenses under this head were permitted in the first instance remained no longer there.
Therefore the Companions unanimously abolished expenditure under this head.

Imam Shafi'i says that there is nothing to prove that the Holy Prophet ever spent anything out of Zakat Funds under this head.
All the incidents mentioned in the traditions show that whatever he spent for the purpose of winning over hearts to Islam, was spent out of the spoils of war and not out of Zakat funds.

In my opinion there is nothing to show that the expenses for winning over hearts have been made unlawful for ever up to the Last Day.
There is no doubt that the action taken by Hadrat `Umar was absolutely right, for if and when the Islamic State does not consider it necessary to spend anything under this head, Islam does not make it obligatory to spend something for `winning hearts'.
On the other hand, if need for this arises at any time, it is authorized to incur expenses under this head for Allah has kept a provision for this.
Hadrat `Umar and the other Companions agreed only on this that there was no need to give anything for this purpose at that time because the circumstances did not warrant it.
But there is no reason to conclude from this that the Companions disallowed for ever the expenses that were permitted by the Qur'an under certain circumstances for the good of Islam.

As regards the opinion of Imam Shafi`i, it appears to be correct in so far as it is not lawful to spend anything under this head out of Zakat Funds, if these expenses can be met out of other funds.
But if it is necessitated that something should be spent under this head out of Zakat Funds, there is no reason why a differentiation should be made in this regard between sinful Muslims and unbelievers.
For the Qur'an has not allocated the share because of the faith of the prospective recipients but because Islam required to win their hearts for its own good and because this could not be achieved except by giving them a portion of wealth.
Therefore the Qur'an allows the Amir of the Believers to spend a part of the Zakat Funds to achieve this end, if, when and where the required conditions exist.
The fact that the Holy Prophet did not spend anything from the Zakat Funds on unbelievers for this purpose does not mean that it is unlawful to do so, for he did not spend from this fund because there was enough money in other funds for this purpose.
Had it been unlawful to spend anything from Zakat Funds on unbelievers, he would have explicitly forbidden it.

*65) A portion of Zakat Funds may be spent for the ransoming of slaves in two ways.
First, help may be given to a slave for the payment of the ransom money, if he enters into an agreement with his master that he will set him fret, if the slave pays him a certain amount of money.
The second way is that the Islamic government may itself pay the price of Iris freedom and set him at liberty.
There is a consensus of opinion about the first way, but there is difference of opinion about the second way.
Hadrat 'Ali, Said bin Jubair, Laith _Thauri, Ibrahim Nakh`i, Sha'abi; and Muhammad bin Sirin, Hanafis and Shafi'' is consider this as unlawful while Ibn, 'Abbas, Hasan Basri, Malik, Ahmad and Abu Thaur consider this as lawful expenditure from this Fund.

*66) Help may be given out of Zakat Funds to such debtors as would be reduced to a state of poverty, if they paid off all their debts out of their own possessions, irrespective of the fact whether they are earning any money or not, whether they are indigent in the general sense or well off.
According to some Jurists, the only exceptions to this are those debtors who are spendthrifts or involve themselves in debts by spending money on wicked deeds.
Help may be given to them only if and when they repeat.

*67) " The Way of Allah " is a general term which unplies all those good works which please Allah.
That is why some Jurists are of the opinion that Zakat Funds may be spent on every kind of good work.
But the fact is, and the majority of the earliest Muslim scholars have opined, that here the 'Way of Allah' stands for Jihad in the Way of Allah, that is, the struggle to eradicate the systems based on kufr and to establish the Islamic system in their stead.
Therefore the Zakat Fund may be utilised to meet the expenses of the journeys the people make, or for procuring means of conveyance, equipment, weapons and other articles needed for Jihad, irrespective of the fact whether they are so well off or not as to need any help fur personal requirements.
Likewise help of a temporary or permanent nature may also be given to those people who devote the whole of their time and energies, temporarily or permanently, for this work
It should also be noted that there has arisen a misunderstanding regarding the " Way of AIIah, " for the early scholars usually use for Jihad the Arabic word as ( ghazvah ) which is synonymous with " fight ".
They, therefore, are of the opinion that Zakat Fund may only be used for the purpose of fighting.
But Jihad in the Way of Allah is a much more comprehensive term than mere fighting in the Way of Allah.
Jihad applies to all those efforts that are made to degrade the word of kufr and to exalt the Word of Allah and to establish the Islamic System of life, whether by propagating the Message of Allah in the initial stage or by fighting in the final stage of the struggle.

*68) Help from Zakat Fund may be given to a wayfarer on a journey even though he might be quite well off at home.

Some of the Jurists are of the opinion that according to this verse only that wayfarer who does not undertake a journey for a sinful purpose may be helped out of Zakat Funds.
But no such condition has been laid down in the Qur'an or the Hadith to this effect.
Besides this, we learn from the fundamental principles of Islam that the sins of a needy person would in no way prevent us from helping him As a matter of fact such a help may prove very useful in reforming sinful and depraved persons.
For if they get a support in the tithe of need, it may reasonably be expected that they would turn towards purifying their souls.

 

Expenditures of Zakah ( Alms ) After Allah mentioned the protest that the ignorant hypocrites mentioned to the Prophet about the distribution of alms.
He stated that it is He who divided the alms, explained its rulings and decided in its division; He did not delegate this decision to anyone else.
Allah mentioned the expenditures of Zakah in this Ayah, starting with the Fuqara' ( the poor ) because they have more need than the other categories, since their need is pressing and precarious.
It was reported that Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ibn Zayd and several others said that the Faqir is a graceful person who does not ask anyone for anything, while the Miskin is the one who follows after people, begging.
Qatadah said, "The Faqir is the ill person, while the Miskin is physically fit." We will now mention the Hadiths about each of these eight categories The Fuqara' ( Poor ) Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَا تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيَ وَلَا لِذِي مِرَّةٍ سَوِي» ( The alms should not be given to the wealthy and the physically fit. ) Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi collected this Hadith. The Masakin ( Needy ) Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِهَذَا الطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي يَطُوفُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَرُدُّهُ اللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ، وَالتَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَان» قالوا: فمن المسكين يا رسول الله؟ قال: «الَّذِي لَا يَجِدُ غِنًى يُغْنِيهِ، وَلَا يُفْطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَا يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا» ( The needy person is not the one who goes round the people and asks them for a mouthful or two (of meals ) or a date or two).
They asked, "Then who is the needy person, O Allah's Messenger!" He said, ( The one who does not have enough to satisfy his needs and whose condition is not known to others, that others may give him something in charity, and who does not beg of people. ) The Two Shaykhs collected this Hadith Those employed to collect Alms Those employed to collect alms deserve a part of the alms, unless they are relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who are not allowed to accept any Sadaqah.
Muslim recorded that `Abdul-Muttalib bin Rabi`ah bin Al-Harith and Al-Fadl bin Al-`Abbas went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asking him to employ them to collect the alms.
The Messenger ﷺ replied, «إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِمُحَمَّدٍ وَلَا لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَوْسَاخُ النَّاس» ( Verily, the alms are not allowed for Muhammad nor the relatives of Muhammad, for it is only the dirt that the people discard. ) Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum There are several types of Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum.
There are those who are given alms to embrace Islam.
For instance, the Prophet of Allah gave something to Safwan bin Umayyah from the war spoils of Hunayn, even though he attended it while a Mushrik.
Safwan said, "He kept giving me until he became the dearest person to me after he had been the most hated person to me." Imam Ahmad recorded that Safwan bin Umayyah said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave me ( from the spoils of ) Hunayn while he was the most hateful person to me.
He kept giving me until he became the most beloved person to me." Muslim and At-Tirmidhi collected this Hadith, as well.
Some of Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum are given from alms so that they become better in Islam and their heart firmer in faith.
For instance, the Prophet gave some of the chiefs of the Tulaqa' a hundred camels each after the battle of Hunayn, saying, «إِنِّي لَأُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ وَغَيْرُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْهُ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يُكِبَّهُ اللهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّم» ( I give a man (from the alms ) while another man is dearer to me than him, for fear that Allah might throw him on his face in the fire of Jahannam.) It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Sa`id said that `Ali sent the Messenger of Allah a gold nugget still in its dirt from Yemen.
The Prophet divided it between four men: Al-Aqra` bin Habis, `Uyaynah bin Badr, `Alqamah bin `Ulathah and Zayd Al-Khayr, saying, «أَتَأَلَّفُهُم» ( To draw their hearts closer. ) Some people are given because some of his peers might embrace Islam, while others are given to collect alms from surrounding areas, or to defend Muslim outposts.
Allah knows best. The Riqab Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Muqatil bin Hayyan, `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz, Sa`id bin Jubayr, An-Nakha`i, Az-Zuhri and Ibn Zayd said Riqab means those slaves who make an agreement with the master to pay a certain ransom for their freedom." Similar was reported from Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari.
Ibn `Abbas and Al-Hasan said, "It is allowed to use Zakah funds to buy the freedom of slaves," indicating that `Riqab' has more general meanings than merely giving money to slaves to buy their freedom or one's buying a slave and freeing him on an individual basis.
A Hadith states that for every limb of the servant freed, Allah frees a limb of the one who freed him from slavery, even a sexual organ for a sexual organ, for the reward is equitable to the deed, وَمَا تُجْزَوْنَ إِلاَّ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ( And you will be requited nothing except for what you used to do. ) 37:39 Virtue of freeing Slaves In the Musnad, there is a Hadith from Al-Bara' bin `Azib that a man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Direct me to an action that draws me closer to Paradise and away from the Fire." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «أَعْتِقِ النَّسَمَةَ وَفُكَّ الرَّقَبَة» ( Emancipate the person and free the neck (slave ).) The man asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Are they not one and the same" He said, «لَا، عِتْقُ النَّسَمَةِ أَنْ تُفْرِدَ بِعِتْقِهَا، وَفَكُّ الرَّقَبَةِ أَنْ تُعِينَ فِي ثَمَنِهَا» ( No, you emancipate a person by freeing him on your own, but you untie a neck (slave ) by helping in its price.) Al-Gharimun ( the Indebted ) There are several types of indebted persons.
They include those who incur expenses in solving disputes between people, those who guarantee a loan that became due, causing financial strain to them, and those whose funds do not sufficiently cover their debts.
It also includes those who indulged in a sin and repented from it.
These types have a right to a part of alms designated for Al-Gharimun.
Qabisah bin Mukhariq Al-Hilali said, "I carried a debt resolving a dispute between people and went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asking him to help pay it.
The Messenger ﷺ said, «أَقِمْ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَنَا الصَّدَقَةُ فَنَأْمُرَ لَكَ بِهَا» ( Be patient until some alms are brought to us so that we give it to you. ) He then said, «يَا قَبِيصَةُ إِنَّ الْمَسْأَلَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ إِلَّا لِأَحَدِ ثَلَاثَةٍ: رَجُلٍ تَحَمَّلَ حَمَالَةً فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَهَا ثُمَّ يُمْسِكَ، وَرَجُلٍ أَصَابَتْهُ جَائِحَةٌ اجْتَاحَتْ مَالَهُ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ أَوْ قَالَ: سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ وَرَجُلٍ أَصَابَتْهُ فَاقَةٌ حَتَّى يَقُومَ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنْ ذَوِي الْحِجَا مِنْ قَرَابَةِ قَوْمِهِ فَيَقُولُونَ: لَقَدْ أَصَابَتْ فُلَانًا فَاقَةٌ فَحَلَّتْ لَهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ، حَتَّى يُصِيبَ قِوَامًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ أَوْ قَالَ: سِدَادًا مِنْ عَيْشٍ فَمَا سِوَاهُنَّ مِنَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ سُحْتٌ يَأْكُلُهَا صَاحِبُهَا سُحْتًا» ( O Qabisah! Begging is only allowed for three: a man who incurred debts solving disputes, so he is allowed to beg until he collects its amount and then stops.
A man who was inflicted by a disaster that consumed his wealth, he is allowed to beg until he collects what suffices for his livelihood.
And a man who was overcome by poverty, that three wise relatives of his stand up and proclaim, `So-and-so was overcome by poverty.' This man is allowed to beg until he collects what sustains his livelihood.
Other than these cases, begging is an unlawful amount that one illegally devours. ) Muslim collected this Hadith.
Abu Sa`id said, "During the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , a man was struck by disaster because of fruits that he bought, causing him extensive debts.
The Prophet said, «تَصَدَّقُوا عَلَيْه» ( Give him charity. ) The people did that but the amount collected did not cover his debts.
The Prophet said to the man's debtors, «خُذُوا مَا وَجَدْتُمْ وَلَيْسَ لَكُمْ إِلَّا ذَلِك» ( Take what was collected, you will have nothing beyond that. )" Muslim collected this Hadith. In the Cause of Allah In the cause of Allah is exclusive for the benefit of the fighters in Jihad, who do not receive compensation from the Muslim Treasury. Ibn As-Sabil ( Wayfarer ) Ibn As-Sabil is a term used for the needy traveler in a land, where he does not have what helps him continue his trip.
This type has a share in the Zakah for what suffices him to reach his destination, even if he had money there.
The same is true for whoever intends to travel from his area but does not have enough money.
This type also has a share in the Zakah money to suffice for his trip and back.
This is proven in the Ayah as well as the following Hadith.
Imams Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah recorded that Ma`mar said that Zayd bin Aslam said that `Ata' bin Yasar said that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَا تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيَ إِلَّا لِخَمْسَةٍ: لِعَامِلٍ عَلَيْهَا، أَوْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَاهَا بِمَالِهِ، أَوْ غَارِمٍ، أَوْ غَازٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، أَوْ مِسْكِينٍ تُصُدِّقَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهَا فَأَهْدَى لِغَنِي» ( Sadaqah is not rightful for a wealthy person except in five cases: those employed to collect it, one who bought a charity item with his money, a Gharim (debtor ), a fighter in the cause of Allah, or a poor man who gets a part of the Zakah so he gives it as a gift to a rich man.) Allah's statement, فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ( a duty imposed by Allah ), means, a decision, decree and division ordained by Allah, وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ( And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise ), knowledgeable of all things outwardly and inwardly and what benefits His servants, حَكِيمٌ ( All-Wise ), in all what he declares, does, legislates and decides, there is no true deity or lord except Him.

Allah then explained who is entitled to these alms, saying: ( The alms are only for the poor ) for the folk of the Platform ( and the needy ) among the pilgrims, ( and those who collect them ) i.e. the collectors of alms, ( and those whose hearts are to be reconciled ) by giving them gifts such as Abu Sufyan and his companions. These were 15 men, ( and to free the captives ) the captives who want to ransom themselves ( and the debtors ) those who incurred debts to fulfil works which are for the obedience of Allah, ( and for the cause of Allah ) and for the fighters for the cause of Allah, ( and (for ) the wayfarers) guests, the passer-by; ( a duty imposed by Allah ) an allotment from Allah for these. ( Allah is Knower ) of these, ( Wise ) regarding that which He has ordained for these categories of people.

As-Sadaqat (here it means Zakat) are only for the Fuqara' (poor), and Al-Masakin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah's Cause (i.e. for Mujahidun - those fighting in the holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.

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