Tawba 60
60- INDEED, THE CHARITIES ARE FOR THE POOR, THE NEEDY, THOSE WHO ADMINISTER IT, TO BRING PEOPLE’S HEARTS TOGETHER, FOR FREEING SLAVES, THE, FOR THE SEVERELY AFFLICTED AND IN DEBT, IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH AND FOR THE WAYFARER, PRESCRIBED BY ALLAH AND ALLAH IS ALL KNOWING AND MOST WISE.
In this Ayah, Allah the Highest tells us about the Eight Categories of people who qualify for Zakah and Sadaqah. Allah the Highest made them very clear in the Quran, and no one is allowed to alter them. A man went to Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, declaring his Islam, and then he said: “Give me out of the Sadaqah”. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said to him: “Allah did not accept the ruling of a prophet or anyone else concerning Sadaqah, but He rules, making it eight types, if you are of one of these types, I will give you”. (D: Zakah)
These are the basic categories who Qualify for Zakah, and there many details under each category. Times lead to the different circumstance we have to face, and different difficulties people have to face, and which might make them qualify for Zakah and Sadaqah.
These Eight Categories are:
- The Poor: This is the person who does not have enough for his needs, but does not go around asking people. They are worse off that the second category.
- The Needy (Miskeen) they are like the poor, but are slightly better off.
Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “The Miskeen is not the one who goes around begging from people to have a piece or two of bread or a date or two”. They said: “Then who is he Allah’s messenger?” He said: “He, is the person who does not have enough for his needs, and people do not know about him to give charity to, /not does he ask people”. (A: 2; 316 & B: Zakah & M: Zakah & N)
The taker of Sadaqah or Zakah should not be fit and healthy able to work and earn his living. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “The Sadaqah is not permitted to be given to a person who is not in need or a person with a fit body and normal health”. (A: 2:164,192 & D: Zakah & T: Zakah & Ma: Zakah)
Two men went to Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, asking for Zakah. He looked at them and saw that they were strong, he said to them: “If you wish, I will give you; however there should be no share in this for a person not in need, or a strong man who can earn”. (A: 2; 224 & D: Zakah; 1633 & N: Zakah; 2597)
Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, and his family were not allowed and his family still not allowed part of the Zakah or Sadaqah. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “The Sadaqah is forbidden to Mohamed and his family, for it is people’s dirt, for it is what is taken from people’s money to purify the rest”. (A: 4; 165,166 & M: ZaKah & N: Zakah & D: Emrah)
- “THOSE WHO ADMINISTER IT”. Those who work on the administration of the Zakah, which is its collection, keeping, distribution, etc, are to be paid from the revenue of the Zakah. The Zakah was the main tax system, therefore it required administration, and employed those who worked on its administration and the places, equipment etc.
The family of Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, should not work for the Zakah Administration as they are not allowed to take the money of the Zakah.
- “TO BRING PEOPLE’S HEARTS TOGETHER”.
Early in Islam, and after the taking of Makah, some chiefs of tribes and influential people were given money to reassure them that the Muslims were not coming to rob them of their money and wealth. This practice stopped at the soon after Allah’s messenger’s life, during the time of the rule of Abu Bakr the first Khalifa. I do not think that this category has an application at present.
- “FOR FREEING SLAVES”
This shows that Islam is anti-Slavery. One of the uses of the Zakah money is to free slaves, which is a definite proof that Islam is anti-Slavery. Slavery had been around for thousands of years before Islam, and although Islam did not abolish it right away, yet it worked against it.
Besides this, the money of the Zakah can be used to free Slaves, freeing slaves has been prescribed as a ransom for number of sins such as:
- If a person breaks his fast during the day time in Ramadan without a good reason.
- To Ransom an Oath.
- In case of Unintended Killing.
- If a person abuses or beats up his slave, its ransom is to free that slave.
A slave was also allowed to buy himself from his master, and this can be helped by Zakah money and charity. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon, him said: “Three kinds of people Allah made a duty upon himself to help; the one who does Jihad in the cause of Allah, a slave wanting to buy his freedom, and a person wanting to marry to avoid sin”. (A: 2; 251 & N: Jihad; 312 & T: Jihad) Allah the Highest Himself promises to help a slave who wants to buy his freedom.
- “THE, FOR THE SEVERELY AFFLICTED AND IN DEBT”
People may fall into serious financial trouble and debt they cannot repay and need help to get out of these difficulties and to get back on their feet. They are entitled to assistance from the Sadaqah and Zakah. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “A man afflicted by an affliction sweeping through his money is permitted to ask for assistance until he can sustain himself”. (A: 3; 477 & M: Zakah & D: Zakkah & N: Zakah)
A man lost a great deal of his money in fruit he bought; Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Give him Sadaqah”. People did, it was not enough to pay all his debt. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said to his debtors: “Take what you find, and have no more”. (A: 3; 58 & M: Musaqah & T: Zakah)
- “IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH”.
This is mainly for defence and protecting the country.
Some scholars consider that it covers other ways of spending for the good of all the Muslims; such as building mosques, schools, hospital, orphanages etc.
- “THE WAYFARER”.
This is the traveller who has financial difficulties and does not have enough money to get him home. This may also apply to those who need to travel but do not have enough money to go and return. Some consider that it applies to students to have to travel to gain knowledge, but cannot afford it.
These are the eight prescribed channels for spending the Zakah as prescribed by Allah the Highest who knows what is good for us.
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