The Eight Purposes in which Zakat can be Spent
Issue No. 1641- Zakāt should be spent for the following eight purposes:1 & 2 It may be given to poor or destitute persons, and they are the ones who are not able to meet their own expenses, as well as that of their families for a period of one year. The difference between poor or destitute is that the former may not beg anyone for help, but destitute is a needy person who may do so. Those people who have a business, or possess a property or capital or a trade but still are not able to meet their expenses are classified as "Faqir" (poor), and can make up the shortfall of their living through zakāt.3- A person who is a wakīl of the Holy Imam (as) or his representative to collect zakāt, to keep it in safe custody, to maintain its accounts and to deliver it to the Imam or his representative or to spend it in the proper ways, may use zakāt as a wage for the work he has done.4- It may be given to people weak in faith, whose faith is strengthened and they may be inclined to Islam as a result of giving them zakāt. 5- It can be spent to purchase slaves in order to set them free.6- It can be given to indebted persons who are unable to repay their debts.7- It may be spent in the way of Allah, i.e., ways which have public benefit for Muslims. For instance constructing a mosque, a school for religious education, Islamic propagation centres, dispatching propagators, publishing useful Islamic books, and in short, anything which has a benefit for Islam and in whatever way or manner it may be, particularly jihād (holy war) in the way of Allah.8- It may be given to an ibn al-sabīl (a penniless traveller). He can receive zakāt to the extent of his need, although he may be rich and needless in his place of residence.
