Some scholars said that they may be given zakah if there is no khums (one-fifth share), or if it exists but they are prevented from receiving it.

Khums means that war booty is divided into five shares: four shares for the combatants, and one share which is itself divided into five shares:

The first is for Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and is spent on the interests of the Muslims; this is known as fay’ or the public treasury.

The second is for the Prophet’s relatives, peace and blessings be upon him: the Banu Hashim and the Banu al-Muttalib, since the Banu al-Muttalib share with the Banu Hashim in the khums.

The third is for orphans.

The fourth is for the poor.

The fifth is for the stranded traveler.

Thus, if they are prevented from receiving it, or if there is no khums—as is the case in our time—they are to be given zakah in order to meet their necessity, if they are poor and have no work. This was the view preferred by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and it is the correct view.

As for voluntary charity, it may be given to the Banu Hashim. This is the position of the majority of scholars, and it is the stronger view, because voluntary charity is a means of attaining perfection and is not the impurities of the people. Thus, they may be given voluntary charity.

The second view is that voluntary charity is not lawful for them, because voluntary charity is among the impurities of the people. Hence, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “And charity extinguishes”