Unlike voluntary charity, Zakat has a fixed list of eligible recipients. A committee that distributes it outside that list has not discharged the obligation, however worthy the cause.
The eight categories
- Al-Fuqara, the poor. Those with little or no income who cannot meet basic needs.
- Al-Masakin, the needy. Those in hardship whose income does not cover their necessities. In practice most committees treat the first two together and assess by household need.
- Al-Amilina Alayha, those employed to administer it. People appointed to collect, record and distribute Zakat may be paid a reasonable wage from it. This is the only administrative cost Zakat may cover, and it must be proportionate.
- Al-Mu'allafati Qulubuhum, those whose hearts are to be reconciled. Historically new Muslims and those being drawn towards Islam or towards peace with the community.
- Fir-Riqab, freeing captives. Classically the manumission of slaves. Contemporary scholars have applied it to freeing people from bondage, trafficking or unjust imprisonment.
- Al-Gharimin, debtors. Those in debt they cannot repay, provided the debt was not incurred in disobedience or recklessness.
- Fi Sabilillah, in the path of God. Interpretations vary from narrowly military defence to broadly any work advancing the good of the community. Most contemporary institutions take a moderate position covering religious education and community welfare.
- Ibn as-Sabil, the stranded traveller. Someone cut off from their means while away from home, even if wealthy at home. This category is directly relevant in Uganda's refugee-hosting districts.
Who may not receive Zakat?
- Your own direct dependants: parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren. You are already obliged to support them.
- Your spouse, on the majority view.
- The wealthy, meaning anyone whose own wealth is at or above nisab.
- Descendants of the Prophet, peace be upon him, on the position of most scholars.
- Non-Muslims, on the majority position, although several categories such as reconciling hearts have been read more broadly. Voluntary Sadaqah has no such restriction and may go to anyone in need.
Siblings, aunts, uncles, nephews and cousins may receive your Zakat if they are eligible, and giving to a needy relative carries additional reward.
How does a committee decide who is eligible?
Write the criteria down before you assess anyone. A workable process:
- Agree what "cannot meet basic needs" means locally, in terms a neighbour would recognise.
- Take nominations from mosque members, local council representatives and women's groups, not from one source alone.
- Visit households rather than deciding from a list.
- Record the decision and the reason, and keep it confidential.
- Have someone outside the assessing group approve the final list.
The purpose of writing it down is not bureaucracy. It is so that when someone is left off the list and complains, the committee can explain the rule rather than appear to have played favourites.
Can Zakat build a mosque, a school or a borehole?
Generally not, on the majority view, because Zakat requires transfer of ownership to an eligible person and shared infrastructure benefits everyone regardless of eligibility. Some contemporary scholars permit it under a broad reading of "in the path of God". Because the difference of opinion is real, the safe course is to fund buildings and water points from Sadaqah, which has no such restriction, and keep Zakat for direct household support. That is what we advise the committees we work with.
Must Zakat be given locally?
The preference is to distribute it where it was collected, so that the poor of that community benefit first. Transferring it elsewhere is permitted where local need is met or where need elsewhere is far more severe, which is the usual basis for supporting refugee-hosting districts.
Where your committee faces a judgement call, put it to a scholar before distribution rather than after.