Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1
❖ Question:
Can a Sayyid give zakāh, charity, or alms to a close needy relative? And can Sayyids themselves receive such donations?
❖ Answer:
Like all other Muslims, Sayyids (descendants of the Prophet ﷺ) are obligated to pay zakāh. However, the eligibility of receiving zakāh or ṣadaqah has specific rulings derived from the Qur’ān and Sunnah.
❖ Recipients of Zakāh and Ṣadaqah
Allah ﷻ has mentioned eight categories of recipients for zakāh in the Qur’ān:
﴿إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقـٰتُ لِلفُقَراءِ… وَابنِ السَّبيلِ﴾
[Sūrah al-Tawbah: 60]
“Zakāh is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing of slaves, those in debt, in the path of Allah, and the stranded traveler. It is an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
❖ Zakāh and Ṣadaqah for the Prophet’s Family (Sayyids)
Zakāh and voluntary charity (ṣadaqah) are not permissible for Sayyids, i.e., the family of the Prophet ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«وَإِنَّهَا لاَ تَحِلُّ لِمُحَمَّدٍ (ﷺ) وَلاَ لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (ﷺ)»
“Indeed, it is not lawful for Muḥammad ﷺ or the family of Muḥammad ﷺ.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim – Kitāb al-Zakāh, Chapter: The Prohibition of Zakāh for the Prophet and His Family]
❖ Giving Zakāh to Close Relatives
✔ If a close relative is not from the Prophet’s family and falls under one of the eight eligible categories, they may receive zakāh or ṣadaqah,
➤ provided that they are not part of the donor’s wife or minor children, who are under the donor’s financial responsibility.
✔ Sayyids should be assisted through other permissible means instead of zakāh or public charity.
❖ Sayyids Among Shīʿah Communities in Pakistan
There is a difference of opinion regarding the status of Sayyid families among Shīʿah communities in Pakistan.
Generally, they are not regarded as authentic descendants of the Prophet ﷺ by many scholars.
Hence, zakāh may be given to such individuals.
Wallāhu Aʿlam bi al-Ṣawāb
And Allah knows best what is correct.
