Question:

To Whom must I Pay my Obligatory Zakah?

Answer:

Those who Deserve.

It is permissible to pay Zakah only to those who deserve it. These are the eight types whom Allah mentioned in the Qur’an in Ayah 60 of Suratut-Tawbah:

إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاء وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ

Innamas–sadaqatu lilfuqara’i wal-masakini wal-^amilina ^alayha wal–mu’allafati qulubuhum wa fir-riqabi wal-gharimina wa fi sabilillahi wabnis-sabil.

Which means: {Zakah must be exclusively paid to the fuqara’, masakin, wal-^amilina ^alayha, mu’allafatu qulubuhum, riqab, gharimun, fi sabilillah, and ibnus-sabil.}

1- Al-Fuqara’ : The poor who earn less than half of their basic needs.

2- Al-Masakin: The poor who earn half or more, but not all their basic needs.

3- Al-^Amiluna ^Alayha: The Zakah workers who are assigned by the caliph and work without pay.

4- Al-Mu’allafatu Qulubuhum: The new converts to Islam whose hearts are to be reconciled, whose peers may embrace Islam if these Muslims are given money.

5- Ar-Riqab: The slaves who are short in satisfying their contract for purchasing their freedom from their owners.

6- Al-Gharimun: Those who are unable to pay their debts.

7- Fi sabilillah: The volunteer fighters who fight for the sake of Allah. This does not include every voluntary good deed.

8- Ibnus-Sabil: The travelers who do not have enough to enable them to reach their destination.