WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ZAKAT?
Zakat is the third Pillar of Islam. It is sometimes translated as alms but actually means purification, growth, and blessing.
Zakat purifies the heart from the detested trait of stinginess and also purifies wealth by giving out a portion of that wealth. It also causes wealth to grow through God's blessings. While regular charity is strongly recommended and abundantly rewarded by God the Most High, Zakat is a debt we owe the Almighty and must be paid as a part of our belief in Him.
Zakat, as a specific amount, was ordained in Medina during the month of Shawwal of the second year of Hijra. In order to emphasize its importance, the order to give Zakat is associated with the order to perform prayers over eighty times in the Noble Koran. In one ayah, which is repeated many times, God the Most High says (meaning), “... And perform prayers and give Zakat...” and the Almighty says to His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon) (meaning), “Of their wealth take alms so that, through it, you may purify and sanctify them...” (Sura At-Tawbah, ayah 103).
Who is eligible to receive Zakat?
There are eight categories of people eligible to receive Zakat. They have been specified in the Noble Koran (meaning), “Alms are for the poor, the needy, employees who administer the funds, those whose hearts have been recently reconciled to the truth, those in bondage, those in debt, in the cause of Allah, and the wayfarer, (thus it is) ordained by Allah, and Allah is most knowledgeable and most wise.” (Sura At-Tawbah, ayah 60).
Based on this ayah, the ways of spending Zakat funds can be classified as follows:
- For the poor (Fuqara') who do not have enough to take care of their basic needs.
- For the needy (Masakeen) whose basic needs are met but whose income does not take care of other important needs.
- For those whose sole job is to collect and distribute the Zakat funds.
- For those who are close to accepting Islam as a religion, and those non-Muslims whose evil can be avoided, if they receive money.
- For freeing a Muslim person from bondage (whether a slave in past times, or a prisoner of war in our times).
- For those who are indebted and cannot pay their debts.
- In the cause of God the Most High scholars have said that what is meant here is that Zakat can be given to those who volunteer to strive in the cause of the Almighty and do not receive a fixed salary from the government.
- For the wayfarer who is stranded in a foreign land and cannot get enough money to go back to his homeland, even though he might be rich otherwise. He should be given enough money to allow him to return to his homeland.
