Who can receive zakat?

The short answer

The Quran limits zakat to eight groups: the poor, the needy, zakat workers, those whose hearts are being brought closer, freeing captives, people in debt, the cause of Allah, and stranded travellers. It is not for the rich or for the able-bodied who can earn, and most scholars say it cannot be given to those you are already obliged to support, such as your parents, children or wife.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Explanation

Unlike voluntary charity, zakat has named recipients. Allah says zakat is "only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveller", calling this "an obligation [imposed] by Allah" 1. Commentators explain, for example, that the debtor is one who fell into debt for reasonable needs, not extravagance, and cannot repay 2.

The basic direction is from the wealthy to the poor: when the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu'adh (RA) to Yemen, he said zakat "is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor" 3. The deserving poor are often not the ones who ask loudly: the truly poor person "has not enough (money) to satisfy his needs and whose condition is not known to others" and does not beg 4. So look for quiet need.

It is not for someone who is wealthy or "strong and able to earn a living" 5.

Family. Giving zakat to eligible relatives outside your obligatory support can be especially rewarding. When Zainab, the wife of Ibn Mas'ud (RA), asked whether she could spend it on her husband and orphans in her care, the Prophet ﷺ said yes, with a double reward: for helping relatives and for giving zakat 6. A needy sibling, uncle or cousin may qualify.

Who cannot receive it. The Prophet ﷺ did not allow even a single date of sadaqah for his own family 7, and most scholars hold that zakat is not given to the descendants of Banu Hashim. The majority also say you cannot give it to people whose maintenance is already your duty.

When unsure, give through a trustworthy zakat organisation that distributes to these categories.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran At-Tawba · 9:60

    Zakat is only for eight named categories, as an obligation from Allah.

    ۞إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡهَا وَٱلۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمۡ وَفِي ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلۡغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِۖ فَرِيضَةࣰ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمࣱ‏ ۝٦٠

    Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise

  2. 2
    Tafsir Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · 9:60

    Explains each of the eight categories, including the debtor who cannot repay reasonable debts.

    Obligatory charity should be distributed to: 1) the poor, those who hardly own anything and this is not hidden from people, either because of the obvious distress of their situation or because of what they tell people about their problems 2) the needy who have some money from working, but not enough for them to live well, whose situation is not drawn attention to; 3) those employed and sent by the Imam to collect it 4) disbelievers, as a sign of friendship, in order to bring them closer to Islam, and those of weak faith, so as to strengthen their faith and prevent evil 5) freeing captives 6) people in debt – who find themselves in debt due to reasonable conditions and not because of extravagance – if they cannot find a way of repaying their debts 7) those striving for the sake of Allah and 8) the traveller who has run out of money. Limiting the distribution of zakat to these people is a duty established by Allah. Allah knows what is in the best interests of His servants, Wise in His planning and law-making.

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1395
    Sahih Bukhari

    Zakat is taken from the wealthy and given to the poor.

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) sent Mu`adh to Yemen and said, "Invite the people to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I am Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), 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

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، عَنْ زَكَرِيَّاءَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْبَدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ مُعَاذًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ ادْعُهُمْ إِلَى شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدِ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ، فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَدَقَةً فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ، تُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ وَتُرَدُّ عَلَى فُقَرَائِهِمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1479
    Sahih Bukhari

    The truly poor person lacks enough for his needs, is unnoticed, and does not beg.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The poor person is not the one who goes round the people and ask them for a mouthful or two (of meals) or a date or two but the poor is that who has not enough (money) to satisfy his needs and whose condition is not known to others, that others may give him something in charity, and who does not beg of people

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ الَّذِي يَطُوفُ عَلَى النَّاسِ تَرُدُّهُ اللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ وَالتَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَانِ، وَلَكِنِ الْمِسْكِينُ الَّذِي لاَ يَجِدُ غِنًى يُغْنِيهِ، وَلاَ يُفْطَنُ بِهِ فَيُتَصَدَّقُ عَلَيْهِ، وَلاَ يَقُومُ فَيَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 1633
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    There is no share in zakat for a rich man or one strong and able to earn.

    Narrated Ubaydullah ibn Adl ibn al-Khiyar: Two men informed me that they went to the Prophet (ﷺ) when he was at the Farewell Pilgrimage while he was distributing the sadaqah and asked him for some of it. He looked us up and down, and seeing that we were robust, he said: If you wish, I shall give you something, but there is nothing spare in it for a rich man or for one who is strong and able to earn a living

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَدِيِّ بْنِ الْخِيَارِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي رَجُلاَنِ، أَنَّهُمَا أَتَيَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ وَهُوَ يَقْسِمُ الصَّدَقَةَ فَسَأَلاَهُ مِنْهَا فَرَفَعَ فِينَا الْبَصَرَ وَخَفَضَهُ فَرَآنَا جَلْدَيْنِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنْ شِئْتُمَا أَعْطَيْتُكُمَا وَلاَ حَظَّ فِيهَا لِغَنِيٍّ وَلاَ لِقَوِيٍّ مُكْتَسِبٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 1466
    Sahih Bukhari

    Zainab was told spending zakat on her husband and the orphans in her care earns a double reward.

    Narrated `Amr bin Al-Harith:Zainab, the wife of `Abdullah said, "I was in the Mosque and saw the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, 'O women ! Give alms even from your ornaments.' " Zainab used to provide for `Abdullah and those orphans who were under her protection. So she said to `Abdullah, "Will you ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) whether it will be sufficient for me to spend part of the Zakat on you and the orphans who are under my protection?" He replied "Will you yourself ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ?" (Zainab added): So I went to the Prophet and I saw there an Ansari woman who was standing at the door (of the Prophet (ﷺ) ) with a similar problem as mine. Bilal passed by us and we asked him, 'Ask the Prophet (ﷺ) whether it is permissible for me to spend (the Zakat) on my husband and the orphans under my protection.' And we requested Bilal not to inform the Prophet (ﷺ) about us. So Bilal went inside and asked the Prophet (ﷺ) regarding our problem. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "Who are those two?" Bilal replied that she was Zainab. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Which Zainab?" Bilal said, "The wife of `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud)." The Prophet said, "Yes, (it is sufficient for her) and she will receive a double reward (for that): One for helping relatives, and the other for giving Zakat

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شَقِيقٌ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ، امْرَأَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُهُ لإِبْرَاهِيمَ فَحَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ زَيْنَبَ امْرَأَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بِمِثْلِهِ سَوَاءً، قَالَتْ كُنْتُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَرَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏"‏ تَصَدَّقْنَ وَلَوْ مِنْ حُلِيِّكُنَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَكَانَتْ زَيْنَبُ تُنْفِقُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْتَامٍ فِي حَجْرِهَا، قَالَ فَقَالَتْ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ سَلْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَيَجْزِي عَنِّي أَنْ أُنْفِقَ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى أَيْتَامِي فِي حَجْرِي مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ فَقَالَ سَلِي أَنْتِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ فَوَجَدْتُ امْرَأَةً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ عَلَى الْبَابِ، حَاجَتُهَا مِثْلُ حَاجَتِي، فَمَرَّ عَلَيْنَا بِلاَلٌ فَقُلْنَا سَلِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَيَجْزِي عَنِّي أَنْ أُنْفِقَ عَلَى زَوْجِي وَأَيْتَامٍ لِي فِي حَجْرِي وَقُلْنَا لاَ تُخْبِرْ بِنَا‏.‏ فَدَخَلَ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ هُمَا ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ زَيْنَبُ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَىُّ الزَّيَانِبِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ امْرَأَةُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ نَعَمْ لَهَا أَجْرَانِ أَجْرُ الْقَرَابَةِ وَأَجْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ ‏"‏‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1069
    Sahih Muslim

    The Prophet ﷺ told al-Hasan to throw away a date of sadaqah, saying his family does not eat sadaqah.

    Abu Huraira reported that Hasan b. 'Ali took one of The dates of the sadaqa and put it in his mouth, whereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said:Leave it, leave it, throw it; don't you know that we do not eat the sadaqa?

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زِيَادٍ - سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ أَخَذَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ تَمْرَةً مِنْ تَمْرِ الصَّدَقَةِ فَجَعَلَهَا فِي فِيهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ كِخْ كِخْ ارْمِ بِهَا أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّا لاَ نَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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