The Explanation of the People of Zakah and Those Who Are Entitled to It: First: The Poor and the Needy.
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The Shaykh : There remains an important topic as well, which is the people of zakah. The people of zakah are eight categories. We will speak about the poor among them and those in debt. Allah the Exalted said: [At-Tawbah 9:60] ...
Who are the poor and the needy? They are those who do not find what suffices them and their families for a year. So, if it is estimated that this man has a salary of five thousand riyals, but he spends six thousand riyals a month on food, drink, clothing, and rent, how much is he entitled to from the zakah?
The student: One thousand.
The Shaykh : Pay attention, everyone, notice the example! A man whose salary is five thousand riyals a month, but he needs six thousand riyals a month, how much is he given from the zakah?
Twelve thousand riyals. He is given twelve thousand riyals. Why?
Because he needs one thousand riyals every month, and the year is twelve months, so we give him twelve thousand riyals.
A poor man inherited fifty thousand riyals from a deceased person, but his estimated expenses for the year are sixty thousand riyals. How much do we give him?
Ten thousand riyals, because he is not considered wealthy unless he has what suffices him and his family for a period of one year.
Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy
إنما الصدقات للفقراء والمساكينWho are the poor and the needy? They are those who do not find what suffices them and their families for a year. So, if it is estimated that this man has a salary of five thousand riyals, but he spends six thousand riyals a month on food, drink, clothing, and rent, how much is he entitled to from the zakah?
The student: One thousand.
The Shaykh : Pay attention, everyone, notice the example! A man whose salary is five thousand riyals a month, but he needs six thousand riyals a month, how much is he given from the zakah?
Twelve thousand riyals. He is given twelve thousand riyals. Why?
Because he needs one thousand riyals every month, and the year is twelve months, so we give him twelve thousand riyals.
A poor man inherited fifty thousand riyals from a deceased person, but his estimated expenses for the year are sixty thousand riyals. How much do we give him?
Ten thousand riyals, because he is not considered wealthy unless he has what suffices him and his family for a period of one year.