9. At-Tawba

Say: "Do you wait for us (anything) except one of the two best things; while we await for you either that Allah will afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands. So wait, we too are waiting with you. (52)Say: "Spend willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from you. Verily, you are ever a people who are rebellious. (53)And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger, and that they came not to the Salah except in a lazy state, and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly (54)

Allah said,

قُلْ

(Say), O Muhammad to them,

هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا

(Do you wait for us), anything,

إِلَّا إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ

(except one of the two best things), martyrdom or victory over you, according to the meaning given by Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, and others.

وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ

(while we await for you), that this will touch you,

أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا

(either that Allah will afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands), either capture or killing,

فَتَرَبَّصُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ

(So wait, we too are waiting with you.) Allah said next,

قُلْ أَنفِقُوا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا

(Say: Spend willingly or unwillingly), for whatever you spend either way,

لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ ۖ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ

(it will not be accepted from you. Verily, you are ever a people who are rebellious.)

Allah mentions the reason behind not accepting their charity from them,

إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ

(except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger.) and the deeds are accepted if they are preceded with faith,

وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ

(and that they came not to the Salah except in a lazy state.)

Therefore, they neither have good intention nor eagerness to perform the acts [of faith],

وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ

(And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger, and that they came not to the Salah (the prayer) except in a lazy state, and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly.)

The Truthful, to whom the Truth was revealed, Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that Allah does not stop giving rewards until you (believers) stop performing good deeds, and that Allah is Tayyib [Good and Pure] and only accepts what is Tayyib. This is why Allah does not accept charity or good deeds from the people described in these Ayat, because He only accepts it from those who have Taqwa.

Say: "Do you wait for us (anything) except one of the two best things; while we await for you either that Allah will afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands. So wait, we too are waiting with you. (52)Say: "Spend willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from you. Verily, you are ever a people who are rebellious. (53)And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger, and that they came not to the Salah except in a lazy state, and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly (54)

Allah said,

قُلْ

(Say), O Muhammad to them,

هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا

(Do you wait for us), anything,

إِلَّا إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ

(except one of the two best things), martyrdom or victory over you, according to the meaning given by Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, and others.

وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ

(while we await for you), that this will touch you,

أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا

(either that Allah will afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands), either capture or killing,

فَتَرَبَّصُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ

(So wait, we too are waiting with you.) Allah said next,

قُلْ أَنفِقُوا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا

(Say: Spend willingly or unwillingly), for whatever you spend either way,

لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ ۖ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ

(it will not be accepted from you. Verily, you are ever a people who are rebellious.)

Allah mentions the reason behind not accepting their charity from them,

إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ

(except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger.) and the deeds are accepted if they are preceded with faith,

وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ

(and that they came not to the Salah except in a lazy state.)

Therefore, they neither have good intention nor eagerness to perform the acts [of faith],

وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ

(And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger, and that they came not to the Salah (the prayer) except in a lazy state, and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly.)

The Truthful, to whom the Truth was revealed, Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that Allah does not stop giving rewards until you (believers) stop performing good deeds, and that Allah is Tayyib [Good and Pure] and only accepts what is Tayyib. This is why Allah does not accept charity or good deeds from the people described in these Ayat, because He only accepts it from those who have Taqwa.

Say: "Do you wait for us (anything) except one of the two best things; while we await for you either that Allah will afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands. So wait, we too are waiting with you. (52)Say: "Spend willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from you. Verily, you are ever a people who are rebellious. (53)And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger, and that they came not to the Salah except in a lazy state, and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly (54)

Allah said,

قُلْ

(Say), O Muhammad to them,

هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا

(Do you wait for us), anything,

إِلَّا إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ

(except one of the two best things), martyrdom or victory over you, according to the meaning given by Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, and others.

وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ

(while we await for you), that this will touch you,

أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا

(either that Allah will afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands), either capture or killing,

فَتَرَبَّصُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ

(So wait, we too are waiting with you.) Allah said next,

قُلْ أَنفِقُوا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا

(Say: Spend willingly or unwillingly), for whatever you spend either way,

لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ ۖ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا فَاسِقِينَ

(it will not be accepted from you. Verily, you are ever a people who are rebellious.)

Allah mentions the reason behind not accepting their charity from them,

إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ

(except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger.) and the deeds are accepted if they are preceded with faith,

وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ

(and that they came not to the Salah except in a lazy state.)

Therefore, they neither have good intention nor eagerness to perform the acts [of faith],

وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ

(And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger, and that they came not to the Salah (the prayer) except in a lazy state, and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly.)

The Truthful, to whom the Truth was revealed, Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that Allah does not stop giving rewards until you (believers) stop performing good deeds, and that Allah is Tayyib [Good and Pure] and only accepts what is Tayyib. This is why Allah does not accept charity or good deeds from the people described in these Ayat, because He only accepts it from those who have Taqwa.

So let not their wealth nor their children amaze you; in reality Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers (55)

Allah says to His Messenger ﷺ,

فَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُهُمْ

(So let not their wealth nor their children amaze you...)

In similar Ayat, Allah said,

وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ

(And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them, the splendor of the life of this world, that We may test them thereby. But the provision (good reward in the Hereafter) of your Lord is better and more lasting)[20:131], and,

أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُم بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ - نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ بَل لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ

(Do they think that in wealth and children with which We enlarge them. We hasten unto them with good things. Nay, but they perceive not.)[23:55-56].

Allah said next,

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا

(in reality Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world,) by taking the Zakah due on their money from them and spending it in Allah's cause, according to the meaning given by Al-Hasan Al-Basri. Allah's statement,

وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ

(and that their souls shall depart while they are disbelievers) means, so that when Allah brings death to them, they will still be disbelievers, to make matters worse for them and the torment more severe. We seek refuge from such an end, which includes being led astray gradually by these things which they have.

They swear by Allah that they are truly of you while they are not of you, but they are a people (hypocrites) who are afraid (that you may kill them)(56)Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush (57)

Exposing Hypocrites' Fright and Fear

Allah describes to His Prophet ﷺ the fright, fear, anxiety and nervousness of the hypocrites,

يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنكُمْ

(They swear by Allah that they are truly of you), swearing a sure oath,

وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ

(while they are not of you), in reality,

وَلَٰكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ

(but they are a people who are afraid), and this is what made them swear.

لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً

(Should they find a refuge), such as a fort in which they hide and fortify themselves,

أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ

(or caves), in some mountains,

أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا

(or a place of concealment), a tunnel or a hole in the ground, according to the explanation given by Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah,

لَّوَلَّوْا إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ

(they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush) away from you because they associate with you unwillingly, not because they are fond of you. They prefer that they do not have to mix with you, but necessity has its rules! It is because of this that they feel grief, sadness and sorrow, seeing Islam and its people enjoying ever more might, triumph and glory. Therefore, whatever pleases Muslims brings them grief, and this is why they prefer to disassociate themselves from the believers. Hence Allah's statement,

لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا لَّوَلَّوْا إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ

(Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush.)

They swear by Allah that they are truly of you while they are not of you, but they are a people (hypocrites) who are afraid (that you may kill them)(56)Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush (57)

Exposing Hypocrites' Fright and Fear

Allah describes to His Prophet ﷺ the fright, fear, anxiety and nervousness of the hypocrites,

يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنكُمْ

(They swear by Allah that they are truly of you), swearing a sure oath,

وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ

(while they are not of you), in reality,

وَلَٰكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ

(but they are a people who are afraid), and this is what made them swear.

لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً

(Should they find a refuge), such as a fort in which they hide and fortify themselves,

أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ

(or caves), in some mountains,

أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا

(or a place of concealment), a tunnel or a hole in the ground, according to the explanation given by Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah,

لَّوَلَّوْا إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ

(they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush) away from you because they associate with you unwillingly, not because they are fond of you. They prefer that they do not have to mix with you, but necessity has its rules! It is because of this that they feel grief, sadness and sorrow, seeing Islam and its people enjoying ever more might, triumph and glory. Therefore, whatever pleases Muslims brings them grief, and this is why they prefer to disassociate themselves from the believers. Hence Allah's statement,

لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا لَّوَلَّوْا إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ

(Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush.)

And of them are some who accuse you concerning (the distribution of) the alms. If they are given part thereof, they are pleased, but if they are not given thereof, behold! They are enraged (58)Would that they were content with what Allah and His Messenger gave them and had said: "Allah is sufficient for us. Allah will give us of His bounty, and so will His Messenger. We implore Allah (to enrich us). (59)

Hypocrites question the Integrity of the Messenger (ﷺ) when distributing Alms

Allah said next,

وَمِنْهُم

(And of them), among the hypocrites,

مَّن يَلْمِزُكَ

(who accuse you) or question your integrity,

فِي

(concerning), division of,

الصَّدَقَاتِ

(the alms), when you divide them. They question your fairness, even though it is they who deserve that their integrity be questioned. The hypocrites do not do this in defense of the religion, but to gain more for themselves. This is why,

أُعْطُوا مِنْهَا

(If they are given) meaning, from the Zakah,

رَضُوا وَإِن لَّمْ يُعْطَوْا مِنْهَا إِذَا هُمْ يَسْخَطُونَ

(They are pleased, but if they are not given thereof, behold! They are enraged!)[9:58], angry for themselves. Qatadah commented on Allah's statement,

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَلْمِزُكَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ

(And of them are some who accuse you concerning the alms.) "Allah says, 'Some of them question your integrity in the matter of distribution of the alms.' We were told that a bedouin man, who had recently embraced Islam, came to the Prophet ﷺ, when he was dividing some gold and silver, and said to him, 'O Muhammad! Even though Allah commanded you to divide in fairness, you have not done so.' The Prophet of Allah ﷺ said,

وَيْلَكَ فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَعْدِلُ عَلَيْكَ بَعْدِي؟

(Woe to you! Who would be fair to you after me then?) The Prophet of Allah ﷺ said next,

احْذَرُوا هَذَا وَأَشْبَاهَهُ فَإِنَّ فِي أُمَّتِي أَشْبَاهُ هَذَا يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرآنَ لَا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيهِمْ فَإِذَا خَرَجُوا فَاْقْتُلُوهُمْ، ثُمَّ إِذَا خَرَجُوا فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ، ثُمَّ إِذَا خَرَجُوا فَاقْتُلُوهُم

(Beware of this man and his likes! There are similar persons in my Ummah who recite the Qur'an, but the Qur'an will not go beyond their throat. If they rise (against Muslims rulers) then kill them, if they rise, kill them, then if they rise kill them.)

We were also told that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ used to say,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ! مَا أُعْطِيكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا أَمْنَعُكُمُوهُ إِنَّمَا أَنَا خَازِنٌ

(By He in Whose Hand is my life! I do not give or withhold anything; I am only a keeper.)"

This statement from Qatadah is similar to the Hadith that the Two Shaykhs narrated from Abu Sa'id about the story of Dhul-Khuwaysirah, whose name was Hurqus. Hurqus protested against the Prophet's division of the war spoils of Hunayn, saying, "Be fair, for you have not been fair!" The Prophet ﷺ said,

لَقَدْ خِبْتُ وَخَسِرْتُ إِنْ لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْدِلُ

(I would have become a loser and a failure if I was not fair!)

The Messenger ﷺ said after that man left,

إِنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ ضِئْضِىءِ هَذَا قَوْمٌ يَحْقِرُ أَحَدُكُمْ صَلَاتَهُ مَعَ صَلَاتِهِمْ وَصِيَامَهُ مَعَ صِيَامِهِمْ، يَـمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ مُرُوقَ السَّهْمِ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ، فَأَيْنَمَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ …

And of them are some who accuse you concerning (the distribution of) the alms. If they are given part thereof, they are pleased, but if they are not given thereof, behold! They are enraged (58)Would that they were content with what Allah and His Messenger gave them and had said: "Allah is sufficient for us. Allah will give us of His bounty, and so will His Messenger. We implore Allah (to enrich us). (59)

Hypocrites question the Integrity of the Messenger (ﷺ) when distributing Alms

Allah said next,

وَمِنْهُم

(And of them), among the hypocrites,

مَّن يَلْمِزُكَ

(who accuse you) or question your integrity,

فِي

(concerning), division of,

الصَّدَقَاتِ

(the alms), when you divide them. They question your fairness, even though it is they who deserve that their integrity be questioned. The hypocrites do not do this in defense of the religion, but to gain more for themselves. This is why,

أُعْطُوا مِنْهَا

(If they are given) meaning, from the Zakah,

رَضُوا وَإِن لَّمْ يُعْطَوْا مِنْهَا إِذَا هُمْ يَسْخَطُونَ

(They are pleased, but if they are not given thereof, behold! They are enraged!)[9:58], angry for themselves. Qatadah commented on Allah's statement,

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَلْمِزُكَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ

(And of them are some who accuse you concerning the alms.) "Allah says, 'Some of them question your integrity in the matter of distribution of the alms.' We were told that a bedouin man, who had recently embraced Islam, came to the Prophet ﷺ, when he was dividing some gold and silver, and said to him, 'O Muhammad! Even though Allah commanded you to divide in fairness, you have not done so.' The Prophet of Allah ﷺ said,

وَيْلَكَ فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَعْدِلُ عَلَيْكَ بَعْدِي؟

(Woe to you! Who would be fair to you after me then?) The Prophet of Allah ﷺ said next,

احْذَرُوا هَذَا وَأَشْبَاهَهُ فَإِنَّ فِي أُمَّتِي أَشْبَاهُ هَذَا يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرآنَ لَا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيهِمْ فَإِذَا خَرَجُوا فَاْقْتُلُوهُمْ، ثُمَّ إِذَا خَرَجُوا فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ، ثُمَّ إِذَا خَرَجُوا فَاقْتُلُوهُم

(Beware of this man and his likes! There are similar persons in my Ummah who recite the Qur'an, but the Qur'an will not go beyond their throat. If they rise (against Muslims rulers) then kill them, if they rise, kill them, then if they rise kill them.)

We were also told that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ used to say,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ! مَا أُعْطِيكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا أَمْنَعُكُمُوهُ إِنَّمَا أَنَا خَازِنٌ

(By He in Whose Hand is my life! I do not give or withhold anything; I am only a keeper.)"

This statement from Qatadah is similar to the Hadith that the Two Shaykhs narrated from Abu Sa'id about the story of Dhul-Khuwaysirah, whose name was Hurqus. Hurqus protested against the Prophet's division of the war spoils of Hunayn, saying, "Be fair, for you have not been fair!" The Prophet ﷺ said,

لَقَدْ خِبْتُ وَخَسِرْتُ إِنْ لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْدِلُ

(I would have become a loser and a failure if I was not fair!)

The Messenger ﷺ said after that man left,

إِنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ ضِئْضِىءِ هَذَا قَوْمٌ يَحْقِرُ أَحَدُكُمْ صَلَاتَهُ مَعَ صَلَاتِهِمْ وَصِيَامَهُ مَعَ صِيَامِهِمْ، يَـمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ مُرُوقَ السَّهْمِ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ، فَأَيْنَمَا لَقِيتُمُوهُمْ …

As-Sadaqat (i.e., Zakah) are only for the Fuqara', and Al-Masakin and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah's cause, and for Ibn As-Sabil; a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise (60)

Expenditures of Zakah (Alms)

After Allah mentioned the protest that the ignorant hypocrites mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ about the distribution of alms. He stated that it is He who divided the alms, explained its rulings and decided in its division; He did not delegate this decision to anyone else. Allah mentioned the expenditures of Zakah in this Ayah, starting with the Fuqara' (the poor) because they have more need than the other categories, since their need is pressing and precarious. It was reported that Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ibn Zayd and several others said that the Faqir is a graceful person who does not ask anyone for anything, while the Miskin is the one who follows after people, begging. Qatadah said, "The Faqir is the ill person, while the Miskin is physically fit." We will now mention the Hadiths about each of these eight categories:

The Fuqara' (Poor)

Ibn 'Umar said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

لَا تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِغَنِيٍّ وَلَا لِذِي مِرَّةٍ سَوِيٍّ

(The alms should not be given to the wealthy and the physically fit.) Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi collected this Hadith.

The Masakin (Needy)

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

لَيْسَ الْمِسْكِينُ بِهَذَا الطَّوَّافِ الَّذِي يَطُوفُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَتَرُدُّهُ اللُّقْمَةُ وَاللُّقْمَتَانِ، وَالتَّمْرَةُ وَالتَّمْرَتَانِ

قالوا: فمن المسكين يا رسول الله؟ قال:

الَّذِي لَا يَجِدُ غِنًى يُغْنِيهِ، وَلَا يُفْطَنُ لَهُ فَيُتَصَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَا يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا

(The needy person is not the one who goes round the people and asks them for a mouthful or two (of meals) or a date or two). They asked, "Then who is the needy person, O Allah's Messenger!" He said, (The one who does not have enough to satisfy his needs and whose condition is not known to others, that others may give him something in charity, and who does not beg of people.) The Two Shaykhs collected this Hadith.

Those employed to collect Alms

Those employed to collect alms deserve a part of the alms, unless they are relatives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who are not allowed to accept any Sadaqah. Muslim recorded that 'Abdul-Muttalib bin Rabi'ah bin Al-Harith and Al-Fadl bin Al-'Abbas went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asking him to employ them to collect the alms. The Messenger ﷺ replied,

إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِمُحَمَّدٍ وَلَا لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَوْسَاخُ النَّاسِ

(Verily, the alms are not allowed for Muhammad nor the relatives of Muhammad, for it is only the dirt that the people discard.)

Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum

There are several types of Al-Mu'allafatu Qulubuhum. There are those who are given alms to embrace Islam. For instance, the Prophet of Allah ﷺ gave something to Safwan bin Umayyah from the war spoils of Hunayn, even though he attended it while a Mushrik. Safwan said, "He kept giving me …