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:
Zakat cannot be given to the ‘Aal’ (family) of the Prophet of Allah [saw]. (Aapke Masaail p.390 v.3)
It is mentioned in a hadith that Saaiduna Hasan [ranhu] once took a date from the dates of Sadaqa and placed it in his mouth. At the Prophet of Allah [saw] 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 [saw] cannot take Zakat can be derived from the following hadith narrated by Abdul-Muttalib ibn Rabi`ah ibn Al-Harith [ranhu] who reported that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam[saw] 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 [saw], 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.