There is a difference of opinion regarding the permissibility of Zakat (charity) of a Syed (a descendant of Abd Al-Mutlib-asws) to another Syed. As for Syeds, it is ‘Khums’ rather than ‘Zakat’. See for Zakat and Khums:
From the Ahadith below, we learn that Al-Fitra also comes under Zakat.
In addition, non-Syeds with a good religious understanding should not be given charity. The charity, however, can be given to those having weak religious understanding from the people of the wilayah of Ahl Al-Bayt-asws. The above are the general guidelines for the believers. At the end, we find in the Ahadith that there are some exceptions under the conditions of compulsion and coercion.
Al-Fitra comes under Zakat
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ الرِّضَا ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الزَّكَاةِ هَلْ تُوضَعُ فِيمَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُ قَالَ لَا وَ لَا زَكَاةُ الْفِطْرَةِ
A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ismail Bin Saeed Al Ashary,
(It has been narrated) from Al-Reza-asws, said, ‘I asked him-asws about the Zakāt, ‘Can it be placed among the ones who do not recognise (Al-Wilayah)?’ He-asws said: ‘No, nor the Zakāt of Al-Fitra’.[1]
Welfare Tax should not be Given to Syed?
أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِيصِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ أُنَاساً مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ أَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَسَأَلُوهُ أَنْ يَسْتَعْمِلَهُمْ عَلَى صَدَقَاتِ الْمَوَاشِي وَ قَالُوا يَكُونُ لَنَا هَذَا السَّهْمُ الَّذِي جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ لِلْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا فَنَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِي وَ لَا لَكُمْ وَ لَكِنِّي قَدْ وُعِدْتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ
Ahmad Bin Idrees, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, and Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Al Fazl Bin Shazaan, altogether from Safwan Bin Yahya, from Ays Bin Al Qasim,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘A group of people from the Clan of Hashim came over to Rasool-Allah-saww. They asked him-saww that he-saww should utilise them upon the (collection of the) charities of the livestock, and they said, ‘Can there happen to be for us this portion which Allah-azwj has Made it to be for the workers over it, so we are the closest with it’. So Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘O sons of Abdul Muttalib-asws! The charity is neither Permissible for me, nor for you all, but I-saww have been Promised the intercession’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ وُعِدَهَا ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَمَا ظَنُّكُمْ يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ إِذَا أَخَذْتُ بِحَلْقَةِ بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ أَ تَرَوْنِي مُؤْثِراً عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَكُمْ .
Then Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘By Allah-azwj has Promised it. So, what is your thinking, O sons of Abdul Muttalib-asws! When I-asws grab the ring of the door of the Paradise, do you see me-asws giving preference to others over you all?’[2]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ وَ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ وَ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ أَوْسَاخُ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ حَرَّمَ عَلَيَّ مِنْهَا وَ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا مَا قَدْ حَرَّمَهُ وَ إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِبَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad, from Hareyz, from Muhammad Bin Muslim and Abu Baseer and Zurara,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far-asws and Abu Abdullah-asws both having said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘The charity is the dirt of the hands of the people, and Allah-azwj has Prohibited upon me-saww from it, and from other that which what has been Prohibited; and the charity is not Permissible for the Clan of Abdul Muttalib-asws’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ قَدْ قُمْتُ عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ بِحَلْقَتِهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُوثِرُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَارْضَوْا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ بِمَا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ لَكُمْ قَالُوا قَدْ رَضِينَا
Then he-saww said: ‘By Allah-azwj! If I-saww were to stand at the Door of the Paradise, then grab its ring, you would come to know that I-saww would not prefer (anyone else) over you. Therefore, be pleased with what Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww are pleased with’. They said, ‘We are pleased’.[3]
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَسْأَلُ شِهَاباً مِنْ زَكَاتِهِ لِمَوَالِيهِ وَ إِنَّمَا حُرِّمَتِ الزَّكَاةُ عَلَيْهِمْ دُونَ مَوَالِيهِمْ
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Sa’alba Bin Maymoun who said,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws used to ask Shihaab (to give) his-asws Zakāt to his-asws slaves, and rather the Zakāt is Prohibited unto them-asws but (it is permissible for our-asws) slaves’.[4]
Sadaqa (Charity) should not be given to believers of good Religious understanding:
تفسير الإمام عليه السلام قِيلَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ يَسْتَحِقُّ الزَّكَاةَ
Tafseer of the Imam (Hassan Al-Askari-asws), may the greeting be upon him-asws – It was said to Rasool-Allah-saww, ‘Who is deserving of the Zakat?’
قَالَ الْمُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مِنْ شِيعَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ تَقْوَ بَصَائِرُهُمْ فَأَمَّا مَنْ قَوِيَتْ بَصِيرَتُهُ وَ حَسُنَتْ بِالْوَلَايَةِ لِأَوْلِيَائِهِ وَ الْبَرَاءَةِ مِنْ أَعْدَائِهِ مَعْرِفَتُهُ فَذَاكَ أَخُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ
He-saww said: ‘The weak ones from the Shias of Muhammad-saww and his-saww Progeny-asws, those whose insight is not strong. But, as for the one whose insight is strong, and his recognition is excellent with the Wilayah of His-azwj friends, and the disavowing from His-azwj enemies, then that one is your brother in the Religion.
أَمَسُّ بِكُمْ رَحِماً مِنَ الْآبَاءِ وَ الْأُمَّهَاتِ الْمُخَالِفِينَ فَلَا تُعْطُوهُ زَكَاةً وَ لَا صَدَقَةً فَإِنَّ مَوَالِيَنَا وَ شِيعَتَنَا مِنَّا كَالْجَسَدِ الْوَاحِدِ يَحْرُمُ عَلَى جَمَاعَتِنَا الزَّكَاةُ وَ الصَّدَقَةُ وَ لْيَكُنْ مَا تُعْطُونَهُ إِخْوَانَكُمُ الْمُسْتَبْصِرِينَ الْبِرَّ وَ ارْفَعُوهُمْ عَنِ الزَّكَوَاتِ وَ الصَّدَقَاتِ وَ نَزِّهُوهُمْ عَنْ أَنْ تَصُبُّوا عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْسَاخَكُمْ
(As for) those who were your relatives yesterday (in the pre-Islamic period), from the fathers and the mothers of the adversaries, so neither give him the Zakat nor charity, because our-asws friends and our-asws Shias are from us-asws, but (on the other hand) all of us-asws are like one body. It is Prohibited upon our-asws group, the Zakat and the charity, and let it happen to be, what you are giving to your brethren, the ones of insight, (an act of) righteousness, and raise them from the Zakat and the charities and exalt them from pouring your filth upon them.
أَ يُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَغْسِلَ وَسَخَ بَدَنِهِ ثُمَّ يَصُبَّهُ عَلَى أَخِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ وَسَخَ الذُّنُوبِ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ وَسَخِ الْبَدَنِ فَلَا تُوَسِّخُوا بِهَا إِخْوَانَكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Would one of you like it if he were to wash the filth of his body, then pour it upon his Momin brother. Surely, the filth of the sins is greater than the filth of the body, therefore do not dirty your brethren, the Momineen, with it.
وَ لَا تَقْصِدُوا أَيْضاً بِصَدَقَاتِكُمْ وَ زَكَوَاتِكُمُ الْمُعَانِدِينَ لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُحِبِّينَ لِأَعْدَائِهِمْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَإِنَّ الْمُتَصَدِّقَ عَلَى أَعْدَائِنَا كَالسَّارِقِ فِي حَرَمِ رَبِّنَا عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ حَرَمِي
And do not give charity as well with your charities and your Zakat to the adversaries, the enemies of the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww, the ones who love their-asws enemies, for giving of charity upon your-asws enemies is like the thief in the Sanctuary of our Lord-azwj Mighty and Majestic (the Kaaba) and my-saww sanctuary (in Al Medina)’.
قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ الْمُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مِنَ الْمُخَالِفِينَ الْجَاهِلِينَ لَا هُمْ فِي مُخَالَفَتِنَا مُسْتَبْصِرُونَ وَ لَا هُمْ لَنَا مُعَانِدُونَ
It was said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! But the weak ones from our adversaries, the ignorant ones, they are not viewing to be in our opposition nor are they being inimical to us’.
قَالَ فَيُعْطَى الْوَاحِدُ مِنَ الدَّرَاهِمِ مَا دُونَ الدِّرْهَمِ وَ مِنَ الْخُبْزِ مَا دُونَ الرَّغِيفِ
He-saww said: ‘So give to one of them from the Dirhams, what is less than the Dirham, and from the bread, what is less than the loaf’.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ كُلُّ مَعْرُوفٍ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مَا وَقَيْتُمْ بِهِ أَعْرَاضَكُمْ وَ صُنْتُمُوهَا مِنْ أَلْسِنَةِ كِلَابِ النَّاسِ كَالشُّعَرَاءِ وَ الْوَقَّاعِينَ فِي الْأَعْرَاضِ تَكُفُّونَهُمْ فَهُوَ مَحْسُوبٌ لَكُمْ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ.
Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Then every good deed after that, and whatever you save your honour, and (instead) you spend it for the tongues of the dogs of the people, like the poets, the backbiters during the presentations. Refrain from them, for it would be counted for you among the charities’’.[5]
، تفسير الإمام عليه السلام قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ أَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَ آتُوا الزَّكاةَ قَالَ الْإِمَامُ ع آتُوا الزَّكَاةَ مُسْتَحِقَّهَا لَا تُؤْتُوهَا كَافِراً وَ لَا مُنَافِقاً قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمُتَصَدِّقُ عَلَى أَعْدَائِنَا كَالسَّارِقِ فِي حَرَمِ اللَّهِ.
Tafseer of the Imam (Hassan Al-Askari-asws) – Words of Mighty and Majestic: Therefore, establish the Salat and give the Zakat [22:78]. The Imam-aswssaid: ‘Give the Zakat to the deserving one. Neither give it to a Kafir nor a hypocrite. Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘The donator to our-asws enemies is like the thief in the Sanctuary of Allah-azwj’’.[6]
وَ آتَى الْمالَ عَلى حُبِّهِ أَعْطَى فِي اللَّهِ الْمُسْتَحِقِّينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ- عَلَى حُبِّهِ لِلْمَالِ وَ شِدَّةِ حَاجَتِهِ إِلَيْهِ، يَأْمُلُ الْحَيَاةَ وَ يَخْشَى الْفَقْرَ، لِأَنَّهُ صَحِيحٌ شَحِيحٌ.
Tafseer of the Imam (Hassan Al Askari-asws), may the greeting be upon him-asws – And gives the wealth over his own Love (for it) [2:177] – gives for the Sake of Allah-azwj to the deserving ones from the Momineen upon His-azwj love over his own lover for the wealth and the intensity of his own need to it, (although) he hopes for the life and fears the poverty, because it is correct, scarce (hard to come by).
ذَوِي الْقُرْبى أَعْطَى لِقَرَابَةِ النَّبِيِّ الْفُقَرَاءِ- هَدِيَّةً أَوْ بِرّاً لَا صَدَقَةً، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَدْ أَجَلَّهُمْ عَنِ الصَّدَقَةِ، وَ آتَى قَرَابَةَ نَفْسِهِ صَدَقَةً وَ بِرّاً وَ عَلَى أَيِّ سَبِيلٍ أَرَادَ.
To the ones with relationships – gives to the relatives of the Prophet-saww, the poor ones, as a gift or (as an act of righteousness), not as charity, for Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Deemed them as being loftier that (be recipients) of the charity. And gives to his own relatives as charity, and (as an act of) righteousness, and upon whichever cause he so wants to.
وَ الْيَتامى وَ آتَى الْيَتَامَى مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ الْفُقَرَاءَ بِرّاً، لَا صَدَقَةً، وَ آتَى يَتَامَى غَيْرِهِمْ صَدَقَةً وَ صِلَةً.
And the orphans – and gives to the orphans from the Clan of Hashim-as, the poor ones, as (an act of) righteousness, not charity, and gives to the orphans of others as charity and as a help.
وَ الْمَساكِينَ مَسَاكِينَ النَّاسِ.
And the poor – the poor ones of the (general) people.
وَ ابْنَ السَّبِيلِ الْمُجْتَازَ الْمُنْقَطَعَ بِهِ لَا نَفَقَةَ مَعَهُ.
And the travellers – The one who travelled more than he anticipated, the ones cut off from his means, there being no expense monies with him.
وَ السَّائِلِينَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَفَّفُونَ وَ يَسْأَلُونَ الصَّدَقَاتِ.
And the beggars – those who are begging and are asking for the charities.
وَ فِي الرِّقابِ الْمُكَاتَبِينَ يُعِينُهُمْ لِيُؤَدُّوا فَيُعْتَقُوا.
And regarding the necks (freeing slaves) – the contracted ones, assisting them to pay off (their outstanding contract) so they would be liberated.
قَالَ: فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ يَحْتَمِلُ الْمُوَاسَاةَ، فَلْيُجَدِّدِ الْإِقْرَارَ بِتَوْحِيدِ اللَّهِ، وَ نُبُوَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص، وَ لْيَجْهَرْ بِتَفْضِيلِنَا، وَ الِاعْتِرَافِ بِوَاجِبِ حُقُوقِنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَ بِتَفْضِيلِنَا عَلَى سَائِرِ [آلِ] النَّبِيِّينَ وَ تَفْضِيلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَى سَائِرِ النَّبِيِّينَ، وَ مُوَالاةِ أَوْلِيَائِنَا، وَ مُعَادَاةِ أَعْدَائِنَا، وَ الْبَرَاءَةِ مِنْهُمْ كَائِناً مَنْ كَانَ، آبَاؤُهُمْ وَ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ وَ ذَوِي قَرَابَاتِهِمْ وَ مَوَدَّاتِهِمْ، فَإِنَّ وَلَايَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُنَالُ إِلَّا بِوَلَايَةِ أَوْلِيَائِهِ وَ مُعَادَاةِ أَعْدَائِهِ.
He-asws said: ‘So if there does not happen to be wealth for him, he should carry the sympathy, so let him renew the acknowledgment of the Tawheed of Allah-azwj, and the Prophet-hood of Muhammad-saww, Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, and let him be vocal with our-asws merits, and the acknowledgement with the Obligatory of our-asws rights, the People-asws of the Household, and with our-asws preferences over the rest of the progenies of the Prophets-as, and the preference of Muhammad-saww over the rest of the Prophets-as, and the friendship of our-asws friends and the enmity of our-asws enemies, and the disavowing from them, whoever they may be, (whether they are) their fathers, and their mothers, and the ones with their relationships and their cordiality, for the Wilayah of Allah-azwj cannot be attained except by the Wilayah of His-azwj friends and the enmity of His-azwj enemies’’.[7]
حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ الْهَاشِمِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الصَّدَقَةِ الَّتِي حُرِّمَتْ عَلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ مَا هِيَ قَالَ هِيَ الزَّكَاةُ قُلْتُ فَتَحِلُّ صَدَقَةُ بَعْضِهِمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ.
Humeyd Bin Ziyad, from Ibn Sama’at, from someone else, from Aban Bin Usman, from Ismail Bin Al Fazl Al Hashimy who said,
‘I asked Abu Abdullah-asws about the charity which is prohibited unto the Clan of Hashim-as, what is it?’ He-asws said: ‘It is the Zakat’. I said, ‘So is the charity Permissible upon each other?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes’.[8]
الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَائِذٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَدِيجَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ أَعْطُوا الزَّكَاةَ مَنْ أَرَادَهَا مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَإِنَّهَا تَحِلُّ لَهُمْ وَ إِنَّمَا تَحْرُمُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ الْإِمَامِ الَّذِي مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ .
Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, and Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, altogether from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Washa, from Ahmad Bin A’iz, from Abu Khadeeja,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Give the Zakaat to the ones you need it from the Clan of Hashim-as, for it is Permissible for them (from each other as per the above Hadith), and rather it is Prohibited upon the Prophet-saww, and the Imam-asws from after him-saww, and the Imams-asws, all of them’.[9]
The Conditions for lifting the restrictions:
الْهِدَايَةُ، اعْلَمُوا رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ تُدْفَعَ الزَّكَاةُ إِلَّا إِلَى أَهْلِ الْوَلَايَةِ وَ لَا يُعْطَى مِنْ أَهْلِ الْوَلَايَةِ الْأَبَوَانِ وَ الْوَلَدُ وَ لَا الزَّوْجُ وَ الزَّوْجَةُ وَ الْمَمْلُوكُ وَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُجْبَرُ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى نَفَقَتِهِ
(The book) ‘Al Hidaya’ –
‘May Allah-azwj Mercy you all! Know that it is not allowed to give the Zakat except to the people of Al-Wilayah, and from the people of Al-Wilayah, it can neither be given to the parents, nor the children, nor the husband and wife, and the slave, and all the ones the man is compelled upon his expenses!
وَ قَدْ فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ بِتَحْرِيمِ الزَّكَاةِ عَلَيْهِمْ فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمَ فَإِنَّهَا تَحِلُّ لَهُمْ لِأَنَّهُمْ قَدْ مُنِعُوا الْخُمُسَ.
And Allah-azwj has Graced the clan of Hashim-as by forbidding the Zakat upon them. As for today, it is Permissible for them because they are being prevented the Khums’’.[10]
تفسير العياشي عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ قَوْلَهُ إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقاتُ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ كُلُّ هَؤُلَاءِ يُعْطَى إِنْ كَانَ لَا يَعْرِفُ
(The book) ‘Tafseer Al Ayyashi’ – From Zurara,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws, he (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘But rather, the charities [9:60] – up to end of the Verse. All these can be given even though it is not known?’
قَالَ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يُعْطِي هَؤُلَاءِ جَمِيعاً لِأَنَّهُمْ يُقِرُّونَ لَهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ
He-asws said: ‘The Imam-asws would give them all because they are accepting the obedience to him-asws’.
قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانُوا لَا يَعْرِفُونَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘I said to him-asws, ‘And even though they are not recognising (the Wilayah)?’
فَقَالَ يَا زُرَارَةُ لَوْ كَانَ يُعْطِي مَنْ يَعْرِفُ دُونَ مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُ لَمْ يُوجَدْ لَهَا مَوْضِعٌ وَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ يُعْطِي مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُ لِيَرْغَبَ فِي الدِّينِ فَيَثْبُتَ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَمَّا الْيَوْمَ فَلَا تُعْطِهَا أَنْتَ وَ أَصْحَابُكَ إِلَّا مَنْ يَعْرِفُ.
He-asws said: ‘O Zurara! If he-asws were to give the one who does recognise apart from the one who does not recognise, he-asws would not find any place for it, and rather he-asws would give to the one who does not recognise for him to be desirous regarding the religion, so it would be affirmed upon him; and as for today, you and your companions should not give except to the one who does recognise (the Wilayah)’’.[11]
قرب الإسناد مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عِيَالُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أُعْطِيهِمْ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَأَشْتَرِي لَهُمْ مِنْهَا ثِيَاباً وَ طَعَاماً وَ أَرَى أَنَّ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ لَهُمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.
(The book) ‘Qurb Al Isnaad’ – Muhammad Bin Al Waleed, from Yunus Bin Yaqoub who said,
‘I said to Abu Abdullah-asws, ‘Dependents of the Muslims, shall I give them from the Zakat so I buy for them from it clothes and food, and I view that is better for them?’ He-asws said: ‘There is no problem’’’.[12]
كِتَابُ زَيْدٍ النَّرْسِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: سُئِلَ إِذَا لَمْ يجد [نَجِدْ] أَهْلَ الْوَلَايَةِ يَجُوزُ لَنَا أَنْ نَصَّدَّقَ عَلَى غَيْرِهِمْ
The book of Zayd Al Narsy –
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws, he (the narrator) said, ‘He-asws was asked, ‘When the people of Wilayah cannot be found, is it allowed for us to donate charities to others?’
فَقَالَ إِذَا لَمْ يَجِدُوا أَهْلَ الْوَلَايَةِ فِي الْمِصْرِ تَكُونُونَ فِيهِ فَابْعَثُوا بِالزَّكَاةِ الْمَفْرُوضَةِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْوَلَايَةِ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَهْلِ مِصْرِكُمْ
He-asws said: ‘When the people of Al-Wilayah cannot be found in the city you happen to be in, then send the Zakat to the people of Al-Wilayah from other than the people of your city.
فَأَمَّا مَا كَانَ فِي سِوَى الْمَفْرُوضِ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوا أَهْلَ الْوَلَايَةِ فَلَا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تُعْطُوهُ الصِّبْيَانَ وَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي مِثْلِ عُقُولِ الصِّبْيَانِ مِمَّنْ لَا يَنْصِبُ وَ لَا يَعْرِفُ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَيُعَادِيَكُمْ وَ لَا يَعْرِفُ خِلَافَ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَيَتَّبِعَهُ وَ يَدِينَ بِهِ وَ هُمُ الْمُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَ النِّسَاءِ وَ الْوِلْدَانِ تُعْطُونَهُمْ دُونَ الدِّرْهَمِ وَ دُونَ الرَّغِيفِ فَأَمَّا الدِّرْهَمَ التَّامَّ فَلَا تُعْطِي إِلَّا أَهْلَ الْوَلَايَةِ
As for what was regarding other than the obligatory from the charity, if the people of Al-Wilayah cannot be found, there is no blame upon you to give it to the children, and the ones in intellects similar to the children, from the ones who are neither hostile nor do they recognise what you are upon so they might oppose you, nor do they recognise contrary to what you are upon so they may follow it and make it a religion with it, and they are the weak ones from the men and the women and the children. You can give them less than one Dirham and less than the loaf of bread. As for the complete Dirham, do not give it except to the people of Al-Wilayah’.
قَالَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي السَّائِلِ يَسْأَلُ عَلَى الْبَابِ وَ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ وَ نَحْنُ لَا نَعْرِفُ مَا هُوَ
He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws! What are you-asws saying regarding the beggar who begs at the door and upon the road, and we do not know what he is?’
فَقَالَ لَا تُعْطِهِ وَ لَا كَرَامَةَ وَ لَا تُعْطِ غَيْرَ أَهْلِ الْوَلَايَةِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَرِقَّ قَلْبُكَ عَلَيْهِ فَتُعْطِيهِ الْكِسْرَةَ مِنَ الْخُبْزِ وَ الْقِطْعَةَ مِنَ الْوَرِقِ
He-asws said: ‘Neither give him nor is there prestige, nor give other than the people of Al-Wilayah, except if your heart is soft upon him, so you can give him a piece from the bread, and the piece (fragment) from the silver.
فَأَمَّا النَّاصِبَ فَلَا يَرِقَّنَّ قَلْبُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا تُطْعِمْهُ وَ لَا تَسْقِهِ وَ إِنْ مَاتَ جُوعاً أَوْ عَطَشاً وَ لَا تُغِثْهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ غَرِقاً أَوْ حَرِقاً فَاسْتَغَاثَ فَغَطِّسْهُ وَ لَا تُغِثْهُ فَإِنَّ أَبِي نِعْمَ الْمُحَمَّدِيُّ كَانَ يَقُولُ مَنْ أَشْبَعَ نَاصِباً مَلَأَ اللَّهُ جَوْفَهُ نَاراً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مُعَذَّباً كَانَ أَوْ مَغْفُوراً لَهُ.
As for the Nasibi (hostile one), do not soften your heart upon him, nor feed him, nor quench him, and even if he dies of hunger or thirst, and do not help him even if he was drowning or burning. Submerge him and do not help him, for my-asws father-asws who was best of the ‘Mohammedans’, had said: ‘One who satiates a Nasibi, Allah-azwj will Fill his interior with fire on the Day of Qiyamah, whether he was Punishable or Forgiven for!’’[13]
وَ عَنْهُ ع قَالَ: لَا تَحِلُّ لَنَا زَكَاةٌ مَفْرُوضَةٌ وَ مَا أُبَالِي أَكَلْتُ مِنْ زَكَاةٍ أَوْ شَرِبْتُ مِنْ خَمْرٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ عَلَيْنَا صَدَقَاتِ النَّاسِ أَنْ نَأْكُلَهَا أَوْ نَعْمَلَ عَلَيْهَا وَ أَحَلَّ لَنَا صَدَقَاتِ بَعْضِنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ زَكَاةٍ.
And from him-asws having said: ‘Obligatory Zakat is not Permissible for us -asws, and I-asws don’t care as (it’s the same) the eating from Zakat or drink from wine (for a Hashami)! Allah-azwj has Prohibited upon us-asws charities of the people from us-asws eating it or working upon it, and He-azwj has Permitted for us-asws charities of one another, from other than Zakat’’.[14]
وَ عَنْهُ ع قَالَ: لَا تَحِلُّ لَنَا زَكَاةٌ مَفْرُوضَةٌ وَ مَا أُبَالِي أَكَلْتُ مِنْ زَكَاةٍ أَوْ شَرِبْتُ مِنْ خَمْرٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ عَلَيْنَا صَدَقَاتِ النَّاسِ أَنْ نَأْكُلَهَا أَوْ نَعْمَلَ عَلَيْهَا وَ أَحَلَّ لَنَا صَدَقَاتِ بَعْضِنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ زَكَاةٍ.
And from him-asws having said: ‘Obligatory Zakat is not Permissible for us -asws, and I-asws don’t care as (it’s the same) the eating from Zakat or drink from wine (for a Hashami)! Allah-azwj has Prohibited upon us-asws charities of the people from us-asws eating it or working upon it, and He-azwj has Permitted for us-asws charities of one another, from other than Zakat’’.[15]
قرب الإسناد مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي الْكَرَّامِ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ الشَّيْخِ فِي أَيَّامِ الْمَأْمُونِ قَالَ: خَرَجْتُ وَ خَرَجَ بَعْضُ مَوَالِينَا إِلَى بَعْضِ مُتَنَزَّهَاتِ الْمَدِينَةِ مِثْلِ الْعَقِيقِ وَ مَا أشبههما [أَشْبَهَهَا] فَدَفَعْنَا إِلَى سِقَايَةٍ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ فِيهَا تَمْرٌ لِلصَّدَقَةِ فَتَنَاوَلْتُ تَمْرَةً فَوَضَعْتُهَا فِي فَمِي فَقَامَ إِلَيَّ الْمَوْلَى الَّذِي كَانَ مَعِي فَأَدْخَلَ إِصْبَعَهُ فِي فَمِي فَعَالَجَ إِخْرَاجَ التَّمْرَةِ مِنْ فَمِي وَ وَافَى أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ هُوَ يُعَالِجُ إِخْرَاجَ التَّمْرَةِ
(The book) ‘Qurb Al Isnaad’ – Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Abu Al Karram Al Ja’fari the sheykh during the days of Al-Mamoun, said,
‘I and one of our friends went out to one of the recreation spots of Al-Medina, like Al-Aqeeq and what resembles these. We came across a watering place of Abu Abdullah Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws, and in it were some dates for the charity. I grabbed a dare and placed it in my mouth. The friend who was with me stood up and inserted his finger into my mouth and tried to extract the date from my mouth, and Abu Abdullah Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws arrived while he was trying to extract the date.
فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا لَكَ أَيْشٍ تَصْنَعُ
He-asws said to him: ‘What is the matter with you? Which thing are you doing?’
فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَوْلَى جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا تَمْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ وَ الصَّدَقَةُ لَا تَحِلُّ لِبَنِي هَاشِمٍ
The friend who was with me said to him-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws! This date is charity, it is not Permissible for the Clan of Hashim-as!’
قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّمَا ذَاكَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ غَيْرِنَا فَأَمَّا بَعْضُنَا فِي بَعْضٍ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘But rather that is Prohibited unto us-asws from others. As for us each other, there is no problem with that’’.[16]
عيون أخبار الرضا عليه السلام لي، الأمالي للصدوق ابْنُ شَاذَوَيْهِ وَ ابْنُ مَسْرُورٍ مَعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ الْحِمْيَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الرَّيَّانِ فِيمَا احْتَجَّ الرِّضَا ع عَلَى الْعَامَّةِ بِحَضْرَةِ الْمَأْمُونِ فِي فَضْلِ الْعِتْرَةِ الطَّاهِرَةِ قَالَ ع لَمَّا جَاءَتْ قِصَّةُ الصَّدَقَةِ نَزَّهَ نَفْسَهُ وَ نَزَّهَ رَسُولَهُ وَ نَزَّهَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ
(The books) ‘Uyoun Akhbar Al-Reza-asws’, may the greeting be upon him-asws, (and) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq – Ibn Shazawiya and Ibn Masrour, both together from Muhammad Al Himeyri, from him, from Al Rayyan,
‘Among what Al-Reza-asws argued against the general Muslims in the presence of Al-Mamoun regarding merits of the Pure Family: ‘He-asws said: ‘When the story of the charity came, He-azwj Distanced Himself-azwj and Distanced His-azwj His-azwj Rasool-saww and Distanced People-asws of His-saww Household.
فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقاتُ لِلْفُقَراءِ وَ الْمَساكِينِ وَ الْعامِلِينَ عَلَيْها وَ الْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَ فِي الرِّقابِ وَ الْغارِمِينَ وَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ ابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ
He-azwj Said: But rather, the charities are for the poor and the needy, and the office bearers upon it, and the ones (recently) inclined of their hearts (to Al-Islam), and ones in bondage, and the ones in debt, and in the Way of Allah, and the wayfarer, being an Ordinance from Allah [9:60].
فَهَلْ تَجِدُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ جَعَلَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ سَهْماً لِنَفْسِهِ أَوْ لِرَسُولِهِ أَوْ لِذِي الْقُرْبَى لِأَنَّهُ لَمَّا نَزَّهَ نَفْسَهُ عَنِ الصَّدَقَةِ وَ نَزَّهَ رَسُولَهُ نَزَّهَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ
Do you find in anything from that that He-azwj, Mighty and Majestic Made a portion for Himself-azwj, or for His-azwj Rasool-saww, or for the near of kin? Because when He-azwj Distanced Himself-azwj from the charity, and Distanced His-azwj Rasool-saww, He-azwj Distanced People-asws of his-saww Household.
لَا بَلْ حَرَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِأَنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ مُحَرَّمَةٌ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ع وَ هِيَ أَوْسَاخُ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لَا تَحِلُّ لَهُمْ لِأَنَّهُمْ طُهِّرُوا مِنْ كُلِّ دَنَسٍ وَ وَسَخٍ فَلَمَّا طَهَّرَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَ اصْطَفَاهُمْ رَضِيَ لَهُمْ مَا رَضِيَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَ كَرِهَ لَهُمْ مَا كَرِهَ لِنَفْسِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ.
No! But, He-azwj Prohibited upon Himself-azwj because the charity is Prohibited unto Muhammad-saww and his-saww Progeny-asws, and it is dirt of hands of the people. It is not Permissible for them because they-asws are pure from every filth and dirt. When Allah-azwj had Purified them-asws, He-azwj was Pleased for them-asws what He-azwj was Pleased with Himself-azwj, and Disliked for them-asws what He-azwj Disliked for Himself-azwj, Mighty and Majestic’’.[17]
[1] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Zakāt CH 28 H 6
[2] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakat Ch 83 H 1
[3] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakat Ch 83 H 2
[4] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakat Ch 83 H 10
[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 6 H 40
[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 6 H 41
[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 6 H 42
[8] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakat Ch 83 H 5
[9] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Zakat Ch 83 H 6
[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 6 H 44
[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 6 H 6
[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 6 H 16
[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 6 H 46
[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 7 H 14 d
[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 7 H 14 d
[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 7 H 2
[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 93 – The Book of Zakat and the charity – Ch 7 H 1