What is the difference between the poor and the needy?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
How do we know who is poor and who is needy? And how do we distinguish between them?
Answer:
If a person appears to be poor, you give to him.
Q: Everyone claims to be poor today?
A: Even so, if you have zakah, you inquire about him. You ask those who know his condition. If there is nothing in him that indicates wealth, you give to him. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was approached by two strong men, he said:Sunan Abi Dawud 1633Sahih (Al-Albani). So you should inform him while you give him the zakah and say: If you are among those entitled to it, there is no harm, if you are in doubt.
Q: What is the definition of the poor? And what is the definition of the needy?
A: The poor is the one in severe need, and the needy is the one who has some means.
Q: Does he have some means during the year or just for the day?
A: No, for the year. So he has earnings, but they are not sufficient for him.
Q: He might be strong but cannot find work?
A: He is given from the zakah. It is necessary that the strong man has earnings, and the one who has no earnings is given.
How do we know who is poor and who is needy? And how do we distinguish between them?
Answer:
If a person appears to be poor, you give to him.
Q: Everyone claims to be poor today?
A: Even so, if you have zakah, you inquire about him. You ask those who know his condition. If there is nothing in him that indicates wealth, you give to him. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was approached by two strong men, he said:
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 شئتُما أعطيتُكما، ولا حظَّ فيها لغنيٍّ، ولا لقويٍّ مُكْتَسِبٍQ: What is the definition of the poor? And what is the definition of the needy?
A: The poor is the one in severe need, and the needy is the one who has some means.
Q: Does he have some means during the year or just for the day?
A: No, for the year. So he has earnings, but they are not sufficient for him.
Q: He might be strong but cannot find work?
A: He is given from the zakah. It is necessary that the strong man has earnings, and the one who has no earnings is given.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.