As for heretics—such as those who believe in divine indwelling, those who regard all things as permissible, those who consider the leader they follow superior to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and those who believe that inwardly they are not obliged to follow the Law of Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace; or that once they attain spiritual knowledge and realization, they are no longer bound by commands and prohibitions; or that someone who has attained such knowledge and realization may practise Judaism or Christianity without being obliged to adhere to the Quran and Sunnah—and others like them: these are hypocrites and heretics. If any one of them is exposed, he must be put to death, by agreement of the Muslims. They are numerous in these times.

Alongside providing for the poor—indeed, for the wealthy as well—the authorities must require these people to follow the Quran and Sunnah and obey Allah and His Messenger. They must not allow anyone to depart from this, whatever claims he may make, even if he claims to fly through the air or walk on water.

According to al-Shāfiʿī and Ahmad, a poor person who is able to earn a living, and is not kept from doing so by work that benefits Muslims generally, may not be given zakat. Abū Hanīfah, however, permitted this. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Charity is not lawful for a wealthy person or for a strong person able to earn a living.”

Zakat may not be given to someone to use for hosting meals and offering hospitality to the poor, nor may it be used to lay out meals, whether for visitors or anyone else. Rather, it must be given to the poor person in need as his own property, so that, if he wishes, he may spend it on himself and his dependants in his own home, pay off his debts with it, and spend it