To Whom Can Zakat Be Given?

To whom can zakat be given?

Eligible recipients for zakat are stated in the Holy Qur’an. These are the poor, the needy, the officials assigned to collect zakat, those whose hearts are desired to be reconciled to Islam (muallafat al-qulub), to be freed from slavery, those in debt, those who are in the jihad for the cause of Allah (swt), and the stranded (travelers). (Tawbah, 9/60).

The poor and needy are those who do not have property in nisab amount apart from the ones for basic needs. Zakat is not given to the people who have property in nisab amount (increasing or not) because they are not considered as poor or needy (Ibn al-Humam, Fath, II, 266).

Debtor is the one who is indebted to someone as rightful share and does not have wealth in nisab amount apart from the ones to pay his/her debt with (Ibn al-Humam, Fath, II, 268).

A (stranded) traveler person is the one who runs out of money on his journey and is not able to access to his money even if he has property where he resides, in other words, who are stranded because of lack of money and not able to return homeland. Zakat can be given to such people at an amount that is enough for them to return where their property is and for their needs till they return. (Kasani, Bada’i, II, 43-46). Today, zakat cannot be given to a traveler who is able to use money in his/her homeland via bank cards or some other means whenever s/he needs.

The expression of “Fi Sabilillah”, which means “in the way of Allah (swt)”, is interpreted as real persons who dedicated their lives to the path of Allah (swt) and Islam such as pilgrims, sodiers, and travelers in search of knowledge.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA