Assisting the household of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam with Zakaat
Question:-
What is the Shariah ruling in regards to assisting the family members of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam with Zakaat funds in this day and age?
Answer:-
The general rule is that Zakaat should not be given to the family members of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. The Hadith states,
إن هذه الصدقات إنما هي أوساخ الناس وإنها لا تحل لمحمد ولا لآل محمد (مسلم ، وأبو داود ، والنسائى عن عبد المطلب بن ربيعة)
Verily this Sadaqah is the filth of people, it is not Halaal for Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and neither for the family of Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
There are a number of opinions in regards to discharging Zakaat funds to a Sayyid. The famous view is that it is not permissible and this view is recorded in most of the Kitaabs of Fiqh.
A second view is that the family of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam may assist other family members (of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam with Zakaat funds, but they cannot receive Zakaat from non family members. [Re:- Fathul Qadeer Pg.272 Vol.2]
A third view is that the family of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam cannot receive any form of Sadaqah, whether Waajib, Nafl or from Waqf funds. [Re:- Fathul Qadeer Pg.273 Vol.2]
A fourth view states that since the family of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam no longer receive a share from the 1/5 which had been stipulated for them from the spoils of war, they are now entitled to receive Zakaat and Waajib Sadaqah. Below we have attached the text of the Fuqaha which support this view.
وقد اختلف عن أبى حنيفة رحمه الله في ذلك فروى عنه أنه قال لا بأس بالصدقات كلها على بنى هاشم وذهب في ذلك عندنا الى أن الصدقات إنما كانت حرمت عليهم من أجل ما جعل لهم في الخمس من سهم ذوى القربى فلما انقطع ذلك عنهم ورجع الى غيرهم بموت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم حل لهم بذلك ما قد كان محرما عليهم من أجل ما قد كان أحل لهم وقد حدثني سليمان بن شعيب عن أبيه عن محمد عن أبي يوسف عن أبي حنيفة : في ذلك مثل قول ابي يوسف فبهٰذا ناخذ (شرح معاني الاثار ص333 ج1)
وَرَوَى أبو عِصْمَةَ عن أبي حَنِيفَةَ جَوَازَ دَفْعِ الزَّكَاةِ إلَى الْهَاشِمِيِّ وانما كان لا يجوز في ذلك الوقت , لسقوط خمس الخمس (البناية شرح الهداية ص203 ج4)
حدثنا محمد بن خزيمة قال ثنا يوسف بن عدي قال ثنا بن المبارك عن عبد الملك بن أبي سليمان عن عطاء قال : خمس الله عز و جل وخمس الرسول واحد ثم تكلموا في تأويل قوله عز و جل ولذي القربى من هم فقال بعضهم هم بنو هاشم الذين حرم الله عليهم الصدقة لا من سواهم من ذوي قربى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم جعل الله لهم من الفيء ومن خمس الغنائم ما جعل لهم منها بدلا مما حرم الله عليهم من الصدقة ——– وقال قوم هم قرابته من قبل آبائه إلى أقصى أب له من قريش ومن قبل أمهاته إلى أقصى أم لكل أم منهن من العشيرة التي هي منها —(شرح معاني الاثار – باب انزاء الحمير علي الخيل)
This was also the view of Hadrat Mufti Mahmood Saheb Gangohi Rahimahullah. It is recorded in Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah that if the family of Rasulullah (who are generally prohibited from receiving Zakaat) are in need to the extent that they are compelled to beg (before people), then receiving Zakaat is acceptable for them according to the view of Imaam Tahaawi Rahimahullah (who is a Hanafi scholar) and Imaam Raazi Rahimahullah (who is a Shafi’ee scholar.)
Hadrat Rahimahullah further states that the harm caused to their honour by begging is far greater than the harm caused to their honour by accepting Zakaat. It will therefore be a better option for them to receive Zakaat, so that they may be protected from greater humiliation (by begging).
Now coming to your query, some of the scholars are in favour of the family of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam accepting Zakaat in this day and age. However, majority of the Kitaabs of Fiqh state that the family of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam should not be assisted with Zakaat funds as such funds are considered as ‘the impurity of people.’ Therefore, respect for the family of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam demands that we do not assist them with Zakaat. Yes, in a case of desperation, when Lillah funds are not available and they may resort to begging from people in order to fulfil their needs, one may assist them with Zakaat funds so that they may be protected from humiliation.