The first: when making it public is more likely to serve the greater interest, such as when the occasion is public, as the Prophet ﷺ did when a group from Muḍar came to him. The people then began giving charity openly, and the Prophet ﷺ praised the one who initiated the charity, saying: “Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam will have its reward and the reward of those who act upon it until the Day of Resurrection.” (1) This is also because it encourages the Ummah to do good.

The second: when concealing it is more likely to serve the greater interest.

The third: when neither of the two is more likely to serve the greater interest. In that case, concealing it is preferable for two reasons:

1. It is further removed from ostentation.
2. It better preserves the dignity of the recipient. The evidence for this is that Allah praised those who give charity and spend their wealth by night and by day, secretly and openly.

The second issue: Should the person giving zakat inform the recipient that it is zakat, or should he not inform him?

The answer: There is some detail to this. If the recipient is known to be eligible for zakat, then he should not be told, for this involves a degree of humiliating and embarrassing him.

But if it is not known whether the recipient is eligible for zakat, then the giver should tell him that this wealth is zakat. Thus, if that poor person does not accept zakat—for some people have a sense of dignity and will not accept zakat—then we say to him, “This is zakat,” because if he does not accept it, it does not become his property. Acceptance is a condition for taking ownership, and he does not accept it. And we say to the one who wishes to benefit this poor yet dignified person: