The Ruling on Giving Zakah to the Syrian Opposition and the Free Army

Question:
The questioner asks: Is it permissible to pay zakah to the Syrian opposition or the Free Army?

Answer:
Allah has restricted the recipients of zakah in His saying, the Exalted: The verse mentions eight categories. If you know that it will reach these categories, if you know that it will reach these categories, then it suffices. But if you do not know, it does not suffice until you know and are certain that it reaches the poor, the needy, and those in need. As for merely hearing about donations—donate, my brother—what is required of you is that you donate. They did not ask you for zakah. I have not heard that they are asking for zakah; rather, they are asking people for donations. Donate, yes.