Is it permissible to prioritize some poor people over those who are in greater need when distributing zakah, because they are known for their righteousness and do not ask people in a distressing manner?
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The questioner : For example, some of our brothers, may Allah reward you, have charity and zakah funds coming in. It is known, Shaykh, that this brother of ours has a family of three or four people, and his salary of one hundred dinars is not enough for fifteen or twenty days of the month. He is committed to his religion, chaste, and does not ask people in a distressing manner. He does not ask anyone, and no one knows about his situation. Some other families are in greater need than him, but they might receive help from other sources. So, if a person starts by giving to his brothers whom he believes are in need of a little money, giving them from the zakah funds, knowing that others are in greater need, does this mean his action is good for the brothers whom we consider righteous and good?
The Shaykh : ... There is a contradiction here, because you said that the others might receive help from other sources.
The questioner : And it is possible that they do not receive it.
The Shaykh : In any case, the person entrusted with distributing zakah must be trustworthy, without a doubt, and he must be wise. He should place the zakah in its proper places, such that he envisions, if I may use the expression, that these zakah funds are his own money. What would he do with his own money? Would he give it to the one you mentioned who is committed, a known friend, poor, has a family, and so on, or would he give it to the others, or the women who might have another source of income? What would he do if this money were his own? He would apply that standard. Is that clear?
The questioner : And is he free from blame after this ... .
The Shaykh : There is no sin on him, naturally, and no blame. The basis from which we derive this conclusion is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him)Sahih al-Bukhari 13 Your brother gave you the zakah of his wealth so that you would place it in the prescribed place. If you had this money, would you put it in the hands of so-and-so, or in the hands of so-and-so or so-and-so? Then do for your Muslim brother what you would do for yourself. When a person observes this principle, he will be saved from many pitfalls of the self’s desires. And this is the answer, if Allah wills.
Please, go ahead.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Welcome.
The Shaykh : ... There is a contradiction here, because you said that the others might receive help from other sources.
The questioner : And it is possible that they do not receive it.
The Shaykh : In any case, the person entrusted with distributing zakah must be trustworthy, without a doubt, and he must be wise. He should place the zakah in its proper places, such that he envisions, if I may use the expression, that these zakah funds are his own money. What would he do with his own money? Would he give it to the one you mentioned who is committed, a known friend, poor, has a family, and so on, or would he give it to the others, or the women who might have another source of income? What would he do if this money were his own? He would apply that standard. Is that clear?
The questioner : And is he free from blame after this ... .
The Shaykh : There is no sin on him, naturally, and no blame. The basis from which we derive this conclusion is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him)
None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.
لا يؤمن أحدكم حتّى يحبّ لأخيه ما يحبّ لنفسهPlease, go ahead.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Welcome.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.