Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1
Is it permissible for members of the Ahl al-Bayt (family of the Prophet ﷺ) to accept charity if they are in need?
The scholars of Islam are unanimous in their ruling that obligatory charity (farḍī ṣadaqah)—such as Zakāh—is impermissible for the Ahl al-Bayt to accept.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَوْسَاخُ النَّاسِ"
"Indeed, charity is not lawful for the family of Muḥammad. It is only the impurities (leftovers) of the people."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2530]
This clearly prohibits the acceptance of Zakāh or compulsory charity by the Ahl al-Bayt.
Regarding voluntary charity (non-obligatory), most scholars have allowed its acceptance by the Ahl al-Bayt in times of need.
"It is not forbidden upon the Ahl al-Bayt to take from voluntary charity. What is forbidden is the obligatory charity (Zakāh)."
(Al-Umm, 2/88)
It is narrated that he used to drink from the public fountains and waqf water sources located between Makkah and Madinah. When asked, “Isn’t this from the wealth of charity, which is forbidden for you?” He replied:
"Indeed, what is forbidden to us is only the obligatory charity."
(Al-Umm, 2/88)
① Obligatory charity (Zakāh) is strictly prohibited for the Ahl al-Bayt.
② Voluntary charity (Naflī Ṣadaqah) is permissible for the Ahl al-Bayt if they are in need.
③ This is the opinion of the majority of classical scholars, including the four Imāms.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
Is it permissible for members of the Ahl al-Bayt (family of the Prophet ﷺ) to accept charity if they are in need?
The scholars of Islam are unanimous in their ruling that obligatory charity (farḍī ṣadaqah)—such as Zakāh—is impermissible for the Ahl al-Bayt to accept.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَوْسَاخُ النَّاسِ"
"Indeed, charity is not lawful for the family of Muḥammad. It is only the impurities (leftovers) of the people."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2530]
This clearly prohibits the acceptance of Zakāh or compulsory charity by the Ahl al-Bayt.
Regarding voluntary charity (non-obligatory), most scholars have allowed its acceptance by the Ahl al-Bayt in times of need.
"It is not forbidden upon the Ahl al-Bayt to take from voluntary charity. What is forbidden is the obligatory charity (Zakāh)."
(Al-Umm, 2/88)
It is narrated that he used to drink from the public fountains and waqf water sources located between Makkah and Madinah. When asked, “Isn’t this from the wealth of charity, which is forbidden for you?” He replied:
"Indeed, what is forbidden to us is only the obligatory charity."
(Al-Umm, 2/88)
① Obligatory charity (Zakāh) is strictly prohibited for the Ahl al-Bayt.
② Voluntary charity (Naflī Ṣadaqah) is permissible for the Ahl al-Bayt if they are in need.
③ This is the opinion of the majority of classical scholars, including the four Imāms.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
