It is reported that ‘Adi ibn Hatim came to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq with three hundred camels from the alms of his people, and Abu Bakr gave him thirty camels from them.
As for the disbelievers whose hearts are to be reconciled, they are those whose harm is feared or whose acceptance of Islam is hoped for. The imam may wish to give to the former in order to avert his harm, or to the latter in order to encourage him to embrace Islam. ⦗160/a⦘ The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would give them from one-fifth of the one-fifth, as he gave Safwan ibn Umayyah because of the inclination toward Islam that he perceived in him. Today, however, Allah has strengthened Islam—to Him belongs all praise—and has made it independent of needing men to be won over for its sake. Thus, no polytheist is to be given anything in order to win his heart over under any circumstances. Many scholars held this view: that the category of those whose hearts are to be reconciled has ceased, and their share has been abolished. This is narrated from ‘Ikrimah; it was also the view of al-Sha‘bi, Malik, al-Thawri, the proponents of legal reasoning, and Ishaq ibn Rahawayh.
Others said: Their share remains established. This is narrated from al-Hasan, and it was the view of al-Zuhri, Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn ‘Ali, and Abu Thawr. Ahmad said: They may be given when the Muslims are in need of that.
His saying, exalted is He: “And for freeing captives.” The fifth category is those in bondage, namely, contracted slaves. They have a share of the alms funds. This is the view of most jurists, including Sa‘id ibn Jubayr, al-Nakha‘i, al-Zuhri, al-Layth ibn Sa‘d, and al-Shafi‘i. A group said: Slaves are to be purchased with the share designated for freeing captives and then emancipated. This was the view of al-Hasan, Malik, Ahmad, and Ishaq.
His saying, exalted is He: “And for those in debt.” The sixth category is debtors, who are of two types. One type consists of those who incurred debt for their own needs, without involving themselves in sin. They are given from the alms funds if they do not possess sufficient wealth to settle their debts; but if they have enough to repay them, they are not given. The other type consists of those who incurred debt for a good cause and to reconcile people. They are given from the alms funds enough to settle their debts, even if they are wealthy.
Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsi informed us; Zahir ibn Ahmad informed us; Abu Ishaq al-Hashimi informed us; Abu Mus‘ab informed us from Malik, from Zayd ibn Aslam, from ‘Ata’ ibn Yasar, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Alms are not lawful for a wealthy person except in five cases: a fighter in the cause of Allah, a debtor, a man who purchases them with his own money, a man who has a poor neighbor and gives charity to the poor person, who then gives it as a gift to the wealthy man, or one employed to administer them.” (1)
Ma‘mar also narrated it from Zayd ibn Aslam, from ‘Ata’ ibn Yasar, from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, directly connected to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with the same meaning. (2)