❀ Zakat is Forbidden for Banu Hashim and Their Freed Slaves ❀
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
❖ Zakat Is Not Permissible for Banu Hashim and Their Freed Slaves
➊ Clear Prohibition from the Prophet ﷺ
Narrated by ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Rabīʿah ibn al-Ḥārith (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“إن الصدقة لا تنبغي لآل محمد، إنما هي أوساخ الناس“
“Charity (i.e., Zakat) is not suitable for the family of Muhammad—it is merely the impurities of people’s wealth.”
In another narration:
“إنها لا تحل لمحمد ولا لآل محمد“
“It is not permissible for Muhammad ﷺ nor for the family of Muhammad.”
[Muslim: 167, 168, 1072; Abū Dāwūd: 2985; Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār: 2/7; al-Bayhaqī: 7/3]
➋ Incident of Ḥasan (رضي الله عنه) Taking a Date from Charity
Narrated by Abū Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
When Ḥasan (رضي الله عنه) picked up a date from the charity pile, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“كخ كخ“ (a gentle expression to prevent him)
Then he added:
“أما شعرت أنا لا نأكل الصدقة“
“Do you not know that we do not eat from charity?”
In another narration:
“أنا لا تحل لنا الصدقة“
“Indeed, charity is not lawful for us.”
[Bukhārī: 1491; Muslim: 161, 1069]
➌ The Prophet ﷺ Avoiding Even Doubtful Charity
The Prophet ﷺ passed by a fallen date and said:
“لولا أن تكون صدقة لأكلتها“
“Had I not feared it was charity, I would have eaten it.”
[Bukhārī: 2055; Muslim: 1071]
➍ The Prophet ﷺ Would Inquire Whether a Gift Was Charity or a Present
When something was brought to the Prophet ﷺ, he would ask:
“Is it a gift or charity?”
If it was charity, he would refrain; if it was a gift, he would accept it.
[Ḥasan Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Nasā’ī: 2450; al-Tirmidhī: 656; al-Nasā’ī: 2613]
❖ Scholarly Consensus
✔ Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله states:
“We do not know of any disagreement on this issue.”
[al-Mughnī: 4/109]
❖ Who is Included in “Āl Muḥammad” (Family of the Prophet)?
- Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله: Includes Banu Hāshim and Banu al-Muṭṭalib.
- Jumhūr (majority), Imām Mālik, Abū Ḥanīfah: Only Banu Hāshim are included.
[al-Majmūʿ: 6/226–227; al-Fiqh al-Islāmī wa Adillatuhu: 2/883–884; Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/135]
✔ The stronger opinion is that of Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله, supported by the Hadith:
“إنما بنو المطلب وبنو هاشم شيء واحد“
“Indeed, Banu al-Muṭṭalib and Banu Hāshim are one and the same.”
[Bukhārī: 3140, 3502; Aḥmad: 4/81; Abū Dāwūd: 2978; al-Nasā’ī: 4136; Ibn Mājah: 6881; al-Bayhaqī: 6/341]
◈ Who Are Banu Hāshim?
They include the descendants of:
- ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه)
- ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib (رضي الله عنه)
- ʿAqīl ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه)
- Ḥārith ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib (رضي الله عنه)
[Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/135]
➎ Freed Slaves of Banu Hāshim Are Also Included
Narrated by Abū Rāfiʿ (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ appointed a man from Banū Makhzūm to collect Zakat. The man invited Abū Rāfiʿ to join him and receive a share. Abū Rāfiʿ refused until he asked the Prophet ﷺ, who replied:
“مولى القوم من أنفسهم، وإنها لا تحل لنا الصدقة“
“A freed slave belongs to the tribe that freed him, and Zakat is not lawful for us.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 1452; Abū Dāwūd: 1650; al-Nasā’ī: 5/107; al-Tirmidhī: 657; Aḥmad: 6/121; al-Ḥākim: 1/404; Sharḥ al-Sunnah: 3/380]
❖ Both Obligatory and Voluntary Charity Are Included
✔ According to Imām al-Shawkānī رحمه الله, this prohibition includes both obligatory Zakat and voluntary charity (nafl ṣadaqah).
[Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/136]
✔ Imām al-Khaṭṭābī رحمه الله also reports consensus (ijmāʿ) on this matter.
[Maʿālim al-Sunan: 2/71]
➏ Clarification About Banu Hāshim Giving Zakat to Each Other
Some argue that a Hāshimī (Sayyid) can give Zakat to another Hāshimī, based on a narration where ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه) asked the Prophet ﷺ:
“هل تحل لنا صدقات بعضنا لبعض؟“
“Can we give charity to one another?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied: “نعم“ (Yes).
[al-Ḥākim fī ʿUlūm al-Ḥadīth: p. 175]
However, this narration is not reliable and cannot be used as evidence.
[For more detail, see: Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/135; al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 1/506]
✿ Summary:
◈ Zakat is prohibited for the Prophet ﷺ, his family (Āl Muḥammad), and their freed slaves.
◈ This includes Banu Hāshim and Banu al-Muṭṭalib, as supported by authentic Hadith.
◈ The prohibition covers both obligatory and voluntary charity.
◈ The majority of scholars agree, and Ijma‘ (consensus) has been recorded by classical scholars.
◈ Freed slaves of Banu Hāshim are also included in the prohibition.
