Fuqarah are those poor people who do not beg. They may have money but not sufficient for their basic needs.
Masaakeen are those people who beg because they do not have food and clothing or may have something for their basic needs. Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) refers to a long communication to Mu�adh ton his way to Yemen, wherein he mentions that Allah has made Zakaat compulsory, it has to be extracted from the rich and given to the poor. [Saheeh al-Bukharee (vol: 2, no: 271) and Saheeh Muslim]
Those employed to collect (the funds): Ibn Sa�eed (radhi allahu anhu) states the he was appointed recovery officer by Umar (radhi allahu anhu) and after doing his job, when he went to hand over the recoveries, Umar (radhi allahu anhu) issued orders that he be compensated for his services. Ibn Sa�eed (radhi allahu anhu) said he had done the job for the cause of
Allah and he would be rewarded for it by Allah. Umar (radhi allahu anhu) said:
�You may take what you are given. I too had done this job and was awarded compensation by the Messenger of Allah . Like you I was hesitant but the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) advised me to accept what is given unsolicited and to eat it and also spend in charity.�
[Authenticated by Shaikh Albanee - Sunan Abu Dawood (2/1643)]
Debtors, who cannot pay their debts:
Abu Sa�eed al-Khudri (radhi allahu anhu) relates that a trader of fruits suffered immense loss due to damage on his fruits and he became heavily indebted. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: �Spend charity on him� The people came forward with their offerings, yet the debts could not be rendered in full. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) urged the creditors to take whatever was given to them and write off the balance. [Saheeh Muslim]
To attract the hearts of those are inclined towards Islam Abu Sa�eed al-Khudri (radhi allahu anhu) said: �Ali sent some freshly mined gold particles which were not yet sifted from earth to the Messenger of Allah . He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) distributed it among four people from the tribes of Bani Kilaa and Bani Nabham.
The people of Quraysh felt hurt at this and complained that they were being ignored, while the chiefs of Najed were favored at their expense. Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) indicated that this was done so as to generate feelings of affection and attachment in the hearts of the people of Najed. [Saheeh Muslim 2/ 2318]
This category also includes spending Zakaat in order to ward off the evil and harm from the Muslims.
To Free the captives:
Baraa (radhi allahu anhu) states that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) and asked to be guided on such a course which should bring him nearer to Paradise and take him and take him away from Hell. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) told him to set free a life and liberate a slave. The distinction between the two objects was too delicate to discover and the person wondered whether both were one and the same thing. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: �No, one is to set free on your own; i.e. exclusively and other is to help liberate a man, i.e. collaborate with others in getting the man freed.� [(Hasan) - Musnad Ahmad]
For Allah�s Cause (i.e. for those who fight in holy battles) Ata bin Yasar (radhi allahu anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: �A rich person does not deserve to be given out of Zakaat funds except in the five cases:
(a) one who is fighting or striving in the Cause of Allah (Jihaad),
(b) one who is administering Zakaat funds,
(c) one who is afflicted by damages,
(d) one who wants to buy from a poor man certain things which has been given him as Zakaat
and
(e) an indigent who receives something by way of Zakaat; that neighbor, although a rich person, is allowed to accept a gift the offering made by his poor neighbor.� [Authenticated by Shaikh al-Albanee in Saheeh Sunan Abu Dawood (1/1440)]
In the above Hadeeth, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) clearly states that anything given to a poor man by way of Zakaat can be bought by a rich person (other than one who gave it in Zakaat) and after giving something in Zakaat, one is free to receivethe same as a gift.
Striving in the cause of Allah includes all those works, which propagate and spread the knowledge of Deen, for e.g; establishing and running religious schools, publication of religious books and the distribution etc The wayfarers: (A traveler who is cut from everything): The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: �It is not lawful to give Zakaat to a rich person, but there is an exception for three persons, one who is engrossed in the cause of Allah, second a wayfarer stranded on the way and third an indigent and third an indigent making offering or entertaining to feast rich person out of Zakaat receive by him.� [(Hasan) Sunan Abu Dawood 2/1633
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