Question:
Can Zakat be given to the needy and the poor of Ahl al-Bayt?
Answer:
In our time yes it is permissible to give zakat to the poor of Ahl al-Bayt because they are not receiving their rightful share of the Khumus (fifth). So they are at least entitled to zakat out of darura (necessity). Sources: Tabari, Ikhtilaf al Fuqaha; Tahawi, Sharh Maani al Āthār; al-Nawawi, al-Majmū, citing al-Istakhri; al-Sakhawi, Istijlab Irtiqa’ al-Ghuraf.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
