Question:
Salamalaikkum to or beloved Shuyukhs.
Our Naqshbandi Shuyukhs have strictly warned us about the Thableegh Jamath. Please educate us on the following.
In the matters on Zakath- “Fi Sabeelillah” can mean many things, but because this is all about on “being in the path of Allah” sometimes the Thableegh Jamath members say that they are entitled towards receiving Zakath.
Ya Shuyukh Please advise us on Thableegh Jamath being on the path of Allah & can they be entitled for Zakath?
Answer:
As-Salamu `Alaykum,
There are categories of people who are not eligible to receive Zakat. They include:
- the rich who have enough to support themselves
- the healthy person who is capable of working and earning his living, unless he cannot find a job or his job does not provide him with enough money to support himself and his family. About these two categories, Imam Abu Dawud narrated an authentic Hadith where the Prophet (s) said: “Alms are not to be given to the rich or to the well-built.” The term “well-built” conveys the meaning that he is able to work and support himself.
This means that people who are capable of travaling are capabale of working as well and therefore Tablighi Jama`at are not eligible to receive Zakat.
In addition, Zakat cannot be paid to:
- one’s dependents whom he is responsible for supporting. These include the wife, the parents, grandparents (up to the eldest living grand grandparent), children, and grandchildren (down to the last born grand grandchild).
Finally, Zakat cannot be paid to:
- a non-Muslim, unless this person belongs to category No. 4 of those eligible to receive Zakat.
Imam Senad Agic, Ph.D.
Head Imam (IABNA)
The Islamic Association of Bosniaks in North America
