From the Holy Qur’ān, Chapter 9 –

Al-Bara'at: The Immunity

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(Reprinted with permission from Maulana Muhammad Ali’s
English translation of the Holy Qur’ān)

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Section 8 – The Hypocrites

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HQ 9:60 (Zakat) charity is only for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer it, and those whose hearts are made to incline (to truth), and (to free) the captives, and those in debt, and in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer—an ordinance from Allah. And Allah is Knowing, Wise. (1069)

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(1069) That by Sadaqat here is meant the obligatory charity, called zakat, and not voluntary alms, is shown by the concluding words of the verse, which call it an ordinance from Allah. The verse defines the objects for which the poor-rate may be spent. Altogether eight heads of expenditure are recognized. There are the poor[1], or those in straitened circumstances; then there are the needy[2], by which are meant people who need some help to enable them to earn their living. Poor students and craftsmen or businessmen without sufficient means are included in this category. Thirdly, there are the collectors[3] of zakat and other people employed to administer the funds. This shows that the institution was meant for raising a public fund, whose management should entirely be in the hands of a public body. The Qur’ān does not recognize it as a private charity. It is sad to note that as the Qur’ān would have it, the institution of zakat is entirely neglected by the Muslims. In the fourth class are people whose hearts are made to incline to Truth[4]. With respect to the preaching of a religion there is always a class, which is ready to listen, but the carrying of the message of Truth to them needs funds. There are also people who may need help, if they accept the Truth. Expenses in this connection are recognized here as a part of the necessary expenditure of poor-rate. The fifth head relates to the freeing of the prisoners of war[5]. Islam thus laid down a permanent basis for the abolition of slavery. The sixth class is that of debtors[6]—people who incur debts for right purposes. Islam requires all the members of the society to live in a free atmosphere, and those burdened with debt must therefore be freed of their burdens. Squanderers of wealth are, however, not included in this category. The seventh head is in general words, fi sabil Allah, or in the way of Allah[7]. Some limit the significance of these words to warriors (fighting in defense of faith and the community), or those who are engaged in propagating Islamic truths, while others think that the words are general and include every charitable purpose. The eighth head is that of wayfarers[8], people who are stranded in a country, to whatever religion or nation they may belong.