to be sure, the scriptural proofs—Qur’anic and prophetic—are many. The expression was used first in connection with armed jihad because that is the path on which one fights for the religion. There is no disagreement about the combatants’ entitlement to zakah, nor about their remaining on the state register (diwan) so long as they serve as volunteers.
7 – The Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League has resolved that calling people to Allah, together with everything that facilitates and supports that work, is included in the phrase “and in the path of Allah” mentioned in the noble verse.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh added: “There is an important cause for which zakah may rightly be used—building a financial capability for da‘wah to Allah and for dispelling doubts about the religion. This falls under jihad and is one of the greatest avenues in the path of Allah.”
8 – With regard to public facilities, the minister and other scholars have said: the leading jurists agree that zakah may not be spent on constructing mosques, bridges, shrouding the dead, or similar projects, because zakah has been earmarked for specific recipients.
9 – The hadith shows that asking for charity is unlawful for a wealthy person except in five cases: (1) one who has incurred debt to reconcile disputing parties, (2) the zakah worker, (3) the fighter in the path of Allah, (4) the affluent person who buys it with his own money, and (5) the wealthy person to whom a poor man gives it as a gift. These five may receive it even though they are rich.
As for the first three—those who take on debts for reconciliation, those appointed over zakah, and the fighters striving in the path of Allah—they belong to the eight recognized categories of zakah recipients. The purchaser and the one who receives it as a gift are not among those categories; rather, they acquire ownership from the poor person who was entitled to it and received it. Once the poor person takes zakah, he owns it outright and may dispose of it by sale, spending, or any other lawful means.
The incident of Barirah and the meat that had been given to her as charity is explicit evidence for this ruling.