//////// ZAKAT \\\\\\\\
In Quran, Obligation, Categories
The categories of Zakat are clearly outlined in the Quran, specifically in Surah At-Tawbah (9:60). Allah mentions eight categories (asnaf) of people who are eligible to receive zakat:
Zakat — Is it FARD? (Mandatory)
Obligation of Zakat: Our Zakat is not just charity—it's a divine system of purification and at the same time, social justice.
Allah Almighty clearly says there are eight categories of those who can receive Zakat.
Al QURAN Al Kareem
Surah Tawbah 9:60
Arabic (right side of the page)
(القرآن الكريم):
إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
Transl~iteration:
Innamas-sadaqātu lil-fuqarā’i wal-masākīni wal-‘āmilīna ‘alayhā wal-mu’allafati qulūbuhum wa fir-riqābi wal-ghārimīna wa fī sabīlillāhi wabnis-sabīl. Farīḍatam-iminallāh; wallāhu ‘Alīmun Ḥakīm.
Translation to English:
"Zakah is only for the poor, the needy, collectors, to attract hearts (to Islam), free slaves, debters, in the cause of Allah, stranded travelers, an OBLIGATION from Allah.
And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise."
Saheeh International: Quran 9:60
____________________________
8 Categories of Zakat
- ٱلْفُقَرَآء (Al-Fuqara) – The Poor
➤ Those with little to no means of income or property. - ٱلْمَسَٰكِين (Al-Masakin) – The Needy
➤ Those in even more desperate situations than the poor, lacking essentials. - ٱلْعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا (Al-‘Amilina ‘Alayha) – Zakat Administrators
➤ Trusted individuals responsible for collecting, distributing, and managing zakat. - ٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ (Al-Mu’allafatu Qulubuhum) – Those Whose Hearts Are To Be Reconciled
➤ New Muslims or those close to Islam, whose hearts may be softened or supported. - فِى ٱلرِّقَابِ (Fir-al Riqab) – Freeing Slaves or Captives
➤ Historically used to free enslaved people; today, it can apply to freeing wrongfully imprisoned or trafficked persons. - ٱلْغَٰرِمِينَ (Al-Gharimin) – Those in Debt
➤ People who are burdened by debt due to valid, essential needs—not luxury or sin. - فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ (Fi Sabilillah) – In the Cause of Allah
➤ Those striving in Allah’s path—dawah efforts, Islamic education, humanitarian projects, and possibly defense of the Muslim community. - ٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ (Ibn as-Sabil) – The Stranded Traveler
➤ A traveler cut off from their resources who needs help to return home.
________________ ______________
A Divine Obligation – Not Just Charity
Allah finishes with this verse — reminding us:
"فَرِيضَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ"
"An obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise."
To Donate ZAKAT . . .
