Some Points of Benefit

First: The remaining members of the eight categories eligible for zakah are:

1 – The indigent (faqir). The jurists define him as the one who can obtain only half of his yearly subsistence or less for himself and those he supports.

2 – The needy (miskin). The jurists define him as the one who can secure half of his yearly subsistence or more, yet does not reach full sufficiency for the year.

Accordingly, the faqir is in greater need than the miskin. Each is to be given what will cover—or complete—his and his dependents’ needs for a full year. If the text mentions only the miskin, the term includes the faqir; if it mentions only the faqir, it includes the miskin. When both are mentioned together, the distinction just explained applies.

We have already noted that the faqir is the one who cannot obtain half of his annual requirement. Whoever possesses the zakatable minimum (nisab) is called “wealthy,” even though that nisab may be as little as five camels—an amount that will not suffice for his own maintenance, let alone that of his dependents. How, then, can the same individual be described as both wealthy and poor when the two words are opposites?

The answer is that two seemingly opposite attributes can coexist in a single person; a man may combine sinfulness with acts of obedience, or practical hypocrisy with faith. Once we understand that the Lawgiver’s purpose is to relieve the recipient’s need, it becomes clear that a person may own a nisab that obliges him to pay zakah, yet that property would not meet his and his dependents’ subsistence if he spent it. From the standpoint of covering his necessities he is poor, while from the standpoint of possessing a zakatable minimum he is wealthy.

3 – Those whose hearts are to be reconciled (al-mu’allafah qulubuhum). They are the respected leaders obeyed by their people whose acceptance of Islam is hoped for, or whose harm may be averted by granting them a share. They receive whatever amount will achieve that reconciliation.

4 – The mukatab. This is a slave who has purchased his freedom from his master. He is to be given what will settle the debt of his manumission contract so that he may free himself.

5 – The debtor for his own sake. He is one who has incurred a debt because of a transaction or other lawful dealings, or