The Book of Zakah

“When a woman gives some of the foodstuff (which she has in her house) in charity without being extravagant (without being wasteful), she will receive the reward for what she has spent, and her husband will receive the reward because of his earning, and the keeper (if any) will be similarly rewarded. The reward of one will not decrease the reward of the others.” Agreed upon.

“Ibn Mas'ud is right. Your husband and your children are more deserving.’’ Related by Al-Bukhari.

“A man who persists in begging people to give him charity, will come on the Day of Judgment and there will not be a piece of flesh on his face.” Agreed upon.

“He who asks others to give to him in order to increase his own wealth, is akin to one who asks for live coals. He who wishes to have more, let him have it and he who wishes to have less, let him have it.” Related by Muslim.

“It is better for any of you to take a rope and cut some wood (from the forest) and carry it over his back and sell it, to preserve his dignity (as he is earning his own living), rather than ask a person for something and that person may give him or not.” Related by Al-Bukhari.

“begging is like a scratch with which a man scratches his face; unless one is asking the ruler or in the case of dire necessity.” Related by At-Tirmidhi, who regarded it as Sahih.

“Zakah is not allowed for the well-off person except for one of the following five: an administrator of Zakah, a man who buys Zakah holdings with his money, a person who is in debt, a fighter in the cause of Allah, or a rich person who is given a present by a needy (miskin) person which the latter had been given as Zakah.” Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and Al-Hakim regarded it as Sahih.

'Ubaidullah bin ’Adi bin Al-Khiyar (RAA) narrated that Two men told him that they had gone to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asking him to give them something from the Zakah money (as he was distributing it at that time). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then looked them up and down and found them to be sturdy and strong. He then said to them, “If you desire, I shall give it to you, but this Zakah is not for one who is rich, neither for the one who is strong and able to earn.” Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i.

“Asking for (the money of) Zakah, is justified only for the following three: first, a man who is in debt: it is then permissible for him to receive [Zakah] until his difficulty is resolved; second, a man who was struck by calamity, which destroyed his holdings, which also makes it permissible for him to receive [Zakah] until he is in a position to earn his own living; and third, a man who has been reduced to poverty and three persons of caliber from among his people testify to his desperate circumstances. Such will receive until he finds a means of support for himself. Other than these cases, O Qabisah, it is considered as taking suht (unlawful or haram earnings), and the person receiving it (this Zakah) will be consuming forbidden (unlawful) holdings.” Related by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban.

“Indeed, Zakah ought not to be given to the family of Muhammad, it will be like giving them from the impurities of people.” In another narration, “It is not lawful for Muhammad or the family of Muhammad(ﷺ). Related by Muslim.

Jubair bin Mut’am (RAA) narrated, “Uthman Ibn 'Affan and I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) &, and said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! You have given the family of Banu Al-Muttalib from the fifth of the war booty of Khaibar and left us out, while we and they are of the same status.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied, “Banu Al-Muttalib and Banu Hashim are one.” Related by al-Bukhari.

Abu Rafi (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) appointed a man from Bani Makhzum to collect the Zakah. The man said to Abu Rafi', ‘Accompany me so that you may get a share of it.' Abu Rafi, replied, ‘No! Not until I go to the Prophet and ask him’ He went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and asked him, and the Prophet replied, “The client (slave) of a certain tribe are like (the members of the tribe) themselves and Zakah is not lawful for us.” Related by Ahmad, the three Imams, Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban.

Salim bin ’Abdullah bin ’Umar narrated on the authority of his father (RAA) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to give 'Umar bin Al-Khattab something (some money), but he would say to him, ‘Would you give it to a person, who is more needy than me'? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would then say to him, 'Take it. If you are given something from this property, without your having asked for it or being eager to receive it, and if you are not given, do not go and ask for it.” Related by Muslim.