Zakah for the Dawah or to the Poor

There is no doubt that giving zakah to the relatives who are entitled to it is better than giving it to others. Because giving charity to the relatives has double the reward. The prophet said: “Charity given to a poor person is charity, but charity given to a relative is two things, charity and upholding the ties of kinship.” 

Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 2581; al-Tirmidhi, 658; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i, 2420. 

Allaah mentioned the poor foremost while mentioning the recipients of Zakah in the Quran 9:60, 

because they are the most deserving category for zakah. Narrated Ibn Abbas:The Prophet sent Muadh (may Allaah be pleased with him) to Yemen and said, "Invite the people to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I am Allah's Apostle, and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers in every day and night (in twenty-four hours), and if they obey you to do so, then teach them that Allah has made it obligatory for them to pay the Zakat from their property and it is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor." 

Sahih al Bukhari 2:478

It is very evident that the purpose of zakah is to take care of the poor of the same society where the rich exist.

In the Quran, Allaah Himself fixed the eight categories of people who deserve Zakah; the eighth category is “Allaah’s cause". Throughout the history the scholars did not mean by “Allaah’s cause" as Dawah , mosques, centers, websites, conferences, TV channels, schools, printing or distributing Quran, and other religious and social activities , as spread by the modern so called Dayees. Rather they explained it as “for mujaahidoon” (i.e. those fighting in the holy wars).

 See the translation in “The noble Quran”.

Sheikh al Albani may Allaah have mercy on him said  “I don’t know any scholar from Salaf who has generalized the meaning of the word “Allaah’s cause" in the way that include all the good actions.” 

Tamamul Minnah p:382. The same is the opinion of Sheikh Bin Baaz, Sheikh Ibn Utaimeen (may Allaah have mercy on them) and other authentic scholars.

Why do some Muslim “brothers” prefer the eighth category in the verse over the other seven categories? Why do we not start giving the zakah to the poor whom Allaah and His prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has preferred over the other categories especially if they are relatives?

It is Zakah, a pillar of Islam, you are dealing with! So be careful while you are paying it and pay only to those whom Allaah and the Prophet has asked us to pay to, otherwise it may not be accepted. May Allaah guide us to the truth.

Sheikh Abdus Salam al Madani

Founder, Aspire College of Excellence