Zakah is given to those for whom Allah has made it obligatory
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Fatwa number ( 2716 )
Q: To whom is zakah given? Is it not permissible to give it except to a monotheist who prays, or to Muslims and that is sufficient? And is it permissible to transfer it for the sake of relatives?
A: Zakah is given to those for whom Allah has prescribed it, as He the Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:60] It is not given, however, except to one whose Islam is verified outwardly; for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Mu'adh ibn Jabal when he sent him to Yemen : Riyad as-Salihin 1208 The more pious and obedient the recipient is among the poor and needy, the more deserving he is than others. The principle regarding zakah is that it is distributed to the poor of the country where the wealth is located, based on the aforementioned hadith, and if a need arises to
transfer it, such as if the poor of the country to which it is transferred are in greater need, or if they are relatives of the one paying zakah in addition to being poor, or something similar, then the transfer is permissible. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: To whom is zakah given? Is it not permissible to give it except to a monotheist who prays, or to Muslims and that is sufficient? And is it permissible to transfer it for the sake of relatives?
A: Zakah is given to those for whom Allah has prescribed it, as He the Exalted said:
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.
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌtell them that Allah has made the payment of Zakat obligatory upon them. It should be collected from their rich and distributed among their poor.
فأعلمهم أن الله افترض عليهم صدقة تؤخذ من أغنيائهم وترد في فقرائهمtransfer it, such as if the poor of the country to which it is transferred are in greater need, or if they are relatives of the one paying zakah in addition to being poor, or something similar, then the transfer is permissible. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.