Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Suhail that his father asked Hazrat Sa’d, Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), and Hazrat Sa’id that I have wealth and I want to pay its zakat, but I am not finding any place where I can pay zakat, and you know what all these people do in this matter. What is your opinion? All of them instructed me to pay it to them.

Hazrat Nafi' narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "Pay the zakat of your wealth to those whom Allah Almighty has appointed as your guardian (ruler). So whoever does good, its reward is for him, and whoever does evil, its burden is upon him."

Hazrat Qaza’ah narrates: I asked Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), “I have wealth; to whom should I pay zakat?” He replied, “To this group, that is, to the rulers (the kings).” I said, “But then they will make clothes and perfume from it (and use it themselves).” He replied, “Even if they make clothes and perfume from it. O Qaza’ah, there is a right on your wealth besides zakat as well.”

Hazrat Hakam bin A'raj says that I asked Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) about this matter. He replied, "Give it to them, even if they eat dog meat from it." When people asked the same question again, he replied, "Give it to them."

Hazrat Naeem bin Mujahid narrates that I asked Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) about this matter. He replied, "Give it to them (the rulers), even if they eat from it delicious things." (Al-Bishyarjat: That which is presented to a guest before the meal.)

Hazrat Dawood bin Asim narrates that Hazrat Mugheerah bin Shu’bah used to send his zakat to the rulers (kings).

It is narrated from Hazrat Yahya bin Abu Kathir that Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Saeed bin Umair used to say that Zakat should be given to the rulers after it is taken out.

Muhammad says that zakat used to be given to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and to those whom he had ordered to collect it. Then it was given to Abu Bakr and to those whom he had ordered, then to Umar and to those whom he had ordered, then to Uthman and to those whom he had ordered. When Uthman was martyred, people began to differ among themselves. Some were of the opinion that it should still be given to them (the rulers), and some were of the opinion that it should be distributed by themselves. Muhammad said: Those who wish to distribute zakat themselves should fear Allah and should not blame others for anything similar to what they themselves are blamed for.

Hazrat Hatha bin Abi Rijal said that he asked Hazrat Amrah about giving Zakat. She replied that Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) used to say: "Give Zakat to your rulers."

Hazrat Abdullah bin Habib narrates that I asked Hazrat Abu Ja'far about zakat, whether zakat should be given to the rulers. He replied that yes, it should be given to the rulers.

Hasan says that four things are the right of rulers: leading the prayer (Imamat), zakat, enforcing the prescribed punishments (hudood), and passing judgment.

Hasan says that these people (the rulers) have been made responsible for four things: prayer, zakat, hudud (prescribed punishments), and judgment (decisions).

It is narrated from Hazrat Khaythamah that Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "Give your zakat even to those rulers who do not perform the prayer." The narrator says that Hazrat Khaythamah states that the meaning of Hazrat Ibn Umar's (may Allah be pleased with them both) statement is: "Give even to those rulers who do not perform the prayer at its prescribed time."

Hazrat Muslim bin Yasar says that the verse of the Holy Qur’an { وَأَقِیمُوا الصَّلاَۃَ وَآتَوُا الزَّکَاۃَ } (Establish prayer and pay zakat) is related to the obligation concerning the ruler.

Imam Zuhri says that zakat should be given to the ruler.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Al-Bailmani that the will which Hazrat Siddiq Akbar made to Hazrat Umar was this: Whoever gives zakat to anyone other than the rulers, his zakat will not be accepted even if he gives the whole world in zakat.

Hazrat Mujahid and Hazrat Ata say that pay the zakat of your wealth to the ruler.

Hazrat Abu Huraira and Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) say: "Pay the zakat of your wealth to the ruler."