Giving zakah to a person of unknown status
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Fatwa number ( 7053 )
Q: It has come to your attention that when some people distribute zakah, people from the desert and from Yemen and from the citizens come, and it is impossible to know their circumstances, and they claim that they are poor. Is it permissible to give them from the zakah based on their claim of poverty? I hope you will inform us of this, and may Allah guide you to what He loves and is pleased with, and may you remain.
A: If it is more likely that the one asking for zakah is among those who are entitled to it, whom Allah mentioned in His saying, the Exalted:[At-Tawbah 9:60] the verse, due to indications that point to his truthfulness, he is given from it. Otherwise, no. But if the one asking claims poverty and you do not know his condition, there is no harm
in giving him from the zakah, unless he is strong; then say to him as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the two who asked him for zakah and he saw them to be robust:Sunan Abi Dawud 1633Sahih (Al-Albani) . And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: It has come to your attention that when some people distribute zakah, people from the desert and from Yemen and from the citizens come, and it is impossible to know their circumstances, and they claim that they are poor. Is it permissible to give them from the zakah based on their claim of poverty? I hope you will inform us of this, and may Allah guide you to what He loves and is pleased with, and may you remain.
A: If it is more likely that the one asking for zakah is among those who are entitled to it, whom Allah mentioned in His saying, the Exalted:
Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah]
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَاin giving him from the zakah, unless he is strong; then say to him as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the two who asked him for zakah and he saw them to be robust:
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.
إن شئتما أعطيتكما ولا حَظَّ فيها لغني ولا لقوي مكتسب
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.