Section: Those Barred from Receiving Zakah

The author’s statement, “It is not to be given to a Hashimite”: that is, a clarification of the impediments to zakah.

Meaning: the impediments that prevent someone who is otherwise eligible for zakah from being entitled to it, such that zakah is not disbursed to him. In other words, what prevents it from being given to a person who is among its eligible recipients? This is the purpose of this section. The basic principle is that matters are not complete unless their causes and conditions are present and their impediments absent.

For example, kinship is one of the causes of inheritance; yet, if the impediment of religious difference exists, inheritance is precluded. Likewise, a quality by which a person is entitled to zakah may be present, while impediments exist that prevent zakah from being given to him.

The author’s statement, “It is not to be given to a Hashimite,” means that zakah is not to be given to a Hashimite.

“Hashimite” means the descendants of Hashim ibn Abd Manaf, for they are among the family of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. The family of Muhammad have the noblest lineage of all people. On account of their honor, they are not given zakah—not out of disdain for them, but as an honor bestowed upon them. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to al-Fadl ibn al-Abbas and Abd al-Muttalib ibn Rabi'ah ibn al-Harith, may Allah be pleased with them, when they asked him for zakah: “It is not lawful for the family of Muhammad; it is but the impurities of the people” (1). The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, thus clarified both the ruling and its reason.

The ruling is that it is not lawful for them.

The reason is that it is the impurities of the people, whereas they are too complete and too noble to receive the impurities of the people.