Who is allowed to receive zakat?

The eight categories

Allah says in Surah al-Tawbah:

"The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those employed to collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer — an obligation imposed by Allah. And Allah is Knowing, Wise."— Qur'an 9:60

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen explains each one in his commentary on this verse:

• The poor and the needy: those who cannot cover their needs. The poor man is in greater hardship than the needy one. The scholars include in this anyone who does not find enough for himself and his family for a year; whoever does find his sufficiency is neither poor nor needy.
• Those employed to collect it: the collectors appointed by the state to gather the zakat and distribute it to those entitled to it. Ibn Uthaymeen warns that this is not the person the general public habitually gives a share to — that is a misunderstanding of the category.
• Those whose hearts are to be reconciled: people who need their hearts drawn to Islam — either non-Muslims who are given so that they may accept Islam, or Muslims whose faith needs strengthening.
• Slaves: includes buying slaves to free them, helping a slave under a manumission contract pay off his agreed sum, and ransoming Muslim captives — including a kidnapped person whose ransom cannot otherwise be paid.
• The debt-ridden: those who owe people money — the price of goods sold, rent, a loan — and cannot repay. Their debt is settled from zakat, either by giving them the money to pay it themselves, or by paying the creditor directly. Ibn Uthaymeen notes that giving it to the debtor himself is better where he is trustworthy, so that no favour is thrown in his face; where he is reckless with money, paying the creditor directly is better.
• In the cause of Allah: jihad in the way of Allah — a fighter is given what he needs for his fighting, or weapons are bought with it. Ibn Uthaymeen and al-Tuwayjiri both include the one who devotes himself to seeking sacred knowledge, since that is a kind of jihad in Allah's cause.
• The wayfarer: the traveller who is cut off, with nothing to get him back to his own land. He is given what covers his need on the journey, even if he is wealthy at home.

Who is excluded

Al-Tuwayjiri sets out the exclusions plainly:

• The wealthy, unless they fall into one of the categories that permits it — a collector of zakat, one whose heart is reconciled, a fighter, or a stranded traveller. The wealthy person is defined as one who finds sufficiency for himself and those he supports for the whole year, whether from money, trade or a craft.
• The family of Hashim and their freed clients, out of honour for them, because zakat is the filth of people. The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Charity is not befitting for the family of Muhammad; it is only the filth of people."— Sahih Muslim 1072

• A non-Muslim, unless he is one whose heart is being reconciled.
• A slave, unless he is under a manumission contract.

Shaykh Ibn Baz adds a related point: zakat is given to those Muslims who are entitled to it, and if a non-Muslim happens to eat alongside them, that does not harm the validity of the zakat, so long as it was given and delivered to a Muslim.

A salary does not disqualify you

A common misunderstanding is that earning a wage rules a person out. It does not. What matters is whether the income covers the need. IslamWeb (fatwa 13683) states that if the resident has income or savings sufficient for him, it is not permissible for him to take zakat — the Prophet ﷺ said:

"Charity is not lawful for a rich person."— Sunan Abi Dawud 1634 and Sunan al-Tirmidhi 652, from Abdullah ibn Amr

But if his income does not suffice him, he may take from zakat what covers his need. Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen gives the example of a man whose salary is four thousand but who spends six thousand a month on a large family — food, clothing, rent and the like. He is given from zakat, because he needs two thousand each month. Al-Tuwayjiri gives the same ruling for a man with a monthly salary of two thousand who needs three thousand. The scholars say the poor and needy are given what suffices them for a year.

Taking what you are not entitled to

Shaykh Ibn Baz was asked whether a person to whom zakat is not lawful may take it. He answered that if a man is not entitled to zakat, it is forbidden for him to take it. He may not take it even intending to pass it on to someone else, unless the owner of the zakat appoints him as an agent — that is, the owner says, "I want to give it to poor people," and authorises him to do so. But to take it claiming to be poor while intending to give it away is not permitted. He must be genuinely entitled, or act openly as an authorised agent.

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen was asked about a man given money as a gift while knowing it was zakat. He answered: if the recipient is among those entitled to zakat, there is no harm — a person may take what Allah has made lawful for him. If he is not among them, it is not permissible for him to take it.

In practice

• Check the category, not the need alone. A person may look poor and still be ineligible, or earn a salary and still be eligible.
• One category is enough. Al-Tuwayjiri notes it is permissible to give all your zakat to a single category, and to a single person within the limits of his need — though if the amount is large, distributing it among the categories is preferred.
• Start with the greatest need. Al-Tuwayjiri states that one begins with the one whose need is most severe.
• Relatives come first where they qualify. It is recommended to give zakat to poor relatives whose maintenance is not already obligatory on you — brothers and sisters, paternal and maternal uncles and aunts. Al-Tuwayjiri notes that charity to the poor is charity, and to a relative it is charity and a maintaining of ties.
• If you gave in good faith and were mistaken, your zakat is valid. Al-Tuwayjiri states that if you gave it to someone you thought eligible, having exercised judgement and investigation, and it turned out he was not eligible, your zakat is discharged.

Key takeaways

• Zakat belongs to eight categories fixed by Allah in Qur'an 9:60; it may not be paid to anyone outside them.
• A salary does not disqualify a recipient — what matters is whether income covers the need for the year.
• The wealthy, the family of Hashim, non-Muslims (except those whose hearts are reconciled) and slaves (except those under a manumission contract) are excluded.
• Taking zakat you are not entitled to is forbidden, even if you intend to pass it on, unless you act as the owner's authorised agent.
• If you gave in good faith to someone you believed eligible and were mistaken, your zakat is valid.

Further reading

• Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, commentary on the categories of zakat (from the tape series on the recipients of zakat)
• Al-Tuwayjiri, Mukhtasar al-Fiqh al-Islami, Book of Zakat, chapter on the recipients of zakat
• Shaykh Ibn Baz, Majmu' al-Fatawa, Book of Zakat

And Allah knows best.