The ruling on giving zakah to mujahideen if they are Ash'aris

Question : Our brother the questioner, what is your opinion regarding the statement of those who say, "We do not give zakah and charity to the mujahideen in some Islamic countries on the grounds that they are Ash'aris, and the Ash'aris are deviants"?

Answer : We hold that this is not correct, because no one has expelled the Ash'aris from the Muslim community, so they are Muslims without doubt. Giving zakah to these people, if they are fighting in the cause of Allah, is permissible. However, the whole issue is why they are fighting and why they are waging war?
If they are fighting and waging war so that the word of Allah is the supreme word, then they are fighting in the cause of Allah and they are given from the zakah. But if they are fighting for a purpose other than this, then they are not fighting in the cause of Allah, so they are not given from the zakah. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about a man who fights for his kin, fights for his bravery, and fights so that his position is seen. Which of these is in the cause of Allah? He said, "Whoever fights so that the word of Allah is the supreme word, he is in the cause of Allah." So this is the standard. The standard is: if these fighters say, "We fight so that the word of Allah is the supreme word, so that we take control of the lands to establish the Shari'ah of Allah, reform the servants of Allah, and guide them by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger," then these are fighters in the cause of Allah, and they are given from the zakah. But if their purpose in fighting is other than this matter, then they are not fighters in the cause of Allah, so they are not given from the zakah.