Can Zakat be given to Sayids?

CategoriesZakah [295]

Fatwa ID: 01983

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Why can’t zakat or any other form of charity be given to Syed. If the syed is very poor can we be given zakat

Answer:

Bismillah

Zakat cannot be given to the ‘Aal’ (family) of the Prophet of Allah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). (Aapke Masaail p.390 v.3)

It is mentioned in a hadith that Saaiduna Hasan raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) once took a date from the dates of Sadaqa and placed it in his mouth. At the Prophet of Allah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: "Kakh! Kakh! Throw it out! Don’t you know that we do not eat charity?" (Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)

The reason why the descendants of the Prophet of Allah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) cannot take Zakat can be derived from the following hadith narrated by Abdul-Muttalib ibn Rabi`ah ibn Al-Harith raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him)  who reported that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalamṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)  said, Charity (Zakah) is not becoming for the family of Muhammad, as it is people's impurities. (Sahih Muslim)

In a nutshell Zakat cannot be given to the family of Prophet of Allah ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), however, one should assist them through gifts and voluntary Sadaqah. (Fataawa Mahmoodiyah p.255 v.7)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.

About the author