Chapter on Categories of the People of Zakat

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub, from al-Abbas, from Ali ibn al-Hasan, from Said, from Zurah, from Samaah: I (narrator) asked Imam عليه السلام about ‘zakat, for whom is it proper to take it?’ Imam عليه السلام said: “It is lawful for those whom Allah سبحانه وتعالى, described in His Book: ‘(Alms-tax) is only for the poor and the needy, for those employed to administer it, for those whose hearts are to be attracted (to the faith), for (freeing) slaves, for those in debt, for Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى cause, and for (needy) travellers. (This is) an obligation from almighty Allah سبحانه وتعالى.’ (Surah At-Tawbah 9:60) And zakat may be lawful for the owner of seven hundred, and unlawful for the owner of fifty dirhams.” So I (narrator) said to Imam عليه السلام: “How can this be?” Imam عليه السلام said: “If the owner of the seven hundred has many dependants, and if he were to divide it among them it would not suffice him, then let him restrain himself from it and let him take it for his dependants. As for the owner of the fifty, it is unlawful for him if he is alone and is a craftsman who works with it, and he obtains from it what suffices him, if Allah سبحانه وتعالى wills.” He (narrator) said: “And I asked Imam عليه السلام about ‘zakat, Is it proper for the owner of a house and a servant?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “Yes, unless his house is a house of yield, and from its yield dirhams come out for him that suffice him for himself and his dependants. But if the yield is not enough for himself and his dependants in their food, their clothing, and their needs, without extravagance, then zakat has become lawful for him. But if its yield suffices them, then no.”

Muhammad ibn Yaqub, from Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad ibn Isa, from Hariz, from Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim: They both (Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim) said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: “Have you considered the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic: ‘(Alms-tax) is only for the poor and the needy, for those employed to administer it, for those whose hearts are to be attracted (to the faith), for (freeing) slaves, for those in debt, for Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى cause, and for (needy) travellers. (This is) an obligation from almighty Allah سبحانه وتعالى.’ (Surah At-Tawbah 9:60) Are all of these given, even if he does not recognize?” Imam عليه السلام said: “The Imam gives all of these, as they acknowledge obedience to him.” He (narrator) said: “I asked: ‘Then if they do not recognize?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “O Zurarah, if he were to give to the one who recognizes and not to the one who does not recognize, no place would be found for it. Rather, he gives to the one who does not recognize so that he may desire the religion and remain firm upon it. As for today, then neither you nor your companions should give it except to one who recognizes. So whoever you find among these Muslims as one who recognizes, give it to him rather than the people.” Then Imam عليه السلام said: “The share of those whose hearts are to be reconciled and the share of freeing slaves are general, and the rest are specific.” He (narrator) said: “I said to Imam عليه السلام: ‘Then if they are not found?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “There is no obligation that Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, has imposed except that people entitled to it are found.” He (narrator) said: “I asked: ‘Then if the charities are not enough for them?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “Allah سبحانه وتعالى has obligated for the poor in the wealth of the rich that which suffices them. If Allah سبحانه وتعالى had known that this would not suffice them, Allah سبحانه وتعالى would have increased it for them. They have not been deprived because of the obligation of almighty Allah سبحانه وتعالى, but they have been deprived because of the withholding of those who withheld their right from them, not because of what Allah سبحانه وتعالى obligated for them. If the people had paid their rights, they would have lived in goodness.”

And Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim mentioned in the Book of Tafsir the detailed explanation of these eight categories, and he (Ali ibn Ibrahim) said: The Scholar, Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام, peace be upon him, explained them and said: (First category) “‘The poor’ are those who do not ask, because of the saying of almighty Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic, in Surah al-Baqarah (and Surah At-Tawbah 9:60): ‘(Charity is) for the needy who are too engaged in the cause of Allah سبحانه وتعالى to move about in the land (for work). Those unfamiliar with their situation will think they are not in need (of charity) because they do not beg. You can recognize them by their appearance. They do not beg people persistently. Whatever you give in charity is certainly well known to Allah سبحانه وتعالى.’ (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:273) (Second category) “And ‘the needy’ are the people of religions; men, women, and children have entered into them.” (Third category) “And ‘those who work over it’ are the collectors and gatherers in taking it, collecting it, and preserving it until they deliver it to the one who distributes it.” (Fourth category) “And ‘those whose hearts are to be reconciled,’ they are a people who professed the oneness of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and cast off the worship of those besides the almighty Allah سبحانه وتعالى, but the recognition had not entered their hearts that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم is the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family. So the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, used to reconcile them, teach them, and make them recognize, so that they might recognize. Thus He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم assigned for them a share in the charities so that they might recognize and become inclined.” (Fifth category) “And ‘in the necks’ refers to a people upon whom expiations have become obligatory in accidental killing, in zihar, in oaths, and in killing game within the sanctuary, and they do not have that with which they may expiate, while they are believers. So Allah سبحانه وتعالى assigned for them a share in the charities so that expiation may be made on their behalf.” (Sixth category) “And ‘the debtors’ are a people upon whom debts have fallen, which they spent in obedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى without extravagance. Thus it is obligatory upon the Imam to pay on their behalf and release them from the wealth of the charities.” (Seventh category) “And ‘in the way of Allah سبحانه وتعالى’ refers to a people who go out for jihad and do not have that by which they may gain strength, or a people from among the believers who do not have that by which they may perform Hajj, or in all paths of good. Therefore, it is upon the Imam to give them from the wealth of the charities until they become able for Hajj and jihad.” (Eight category) “And ‘the son of the way’ refers to the needy travellers of the road (wayfarers), those who are in journeys in obedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, then they are cut off and their wealth is lost. Therefore, it is upon the Imam to return them to their homelands from the wealth of the charities.”