Hadith 2389
Imam Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, states that in the narration of Sayyiduna Salamah bin Sakhr, may Allah be pleased with him, it is mentioned that he informed the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that today all his household slept hungry and they did not have any food for the night. Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sent him to the collector of zakat of Banu Zurayq so that he could take the zakat of Zurayq. In this narration, it is not mentioned that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, investigated his situation from any other person. This hadith also contains evidence that it is permissible to give the zakat of an entire tribe to a single person; it is not obligatory for the Imam to distribute the zakat of every individual. Nor is it obligatory that the zakat of every person be distributed among all the existing categories of zakat recipients. Because the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered Sayyiduna Salamah bin Sakhr, may Allah be pleased with him, to take the zakat of all the individuals of Banu Zurayq from their collector.