Minimum and Maximum Amount of Zakat Payable to a Needy Person

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from abu Wallad al-Hannat who has said the following: “I once heard abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ’Less than five dirham of Zakat must not be given to anyone. This is the minimum that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made obligatory on the assets of the Muslims. Do not give anyone less than five dirham but give more and so on.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from af-Nawfafiy from af-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Of a man’s honoring his brother (in belief) is to accept his gift and present him a gift of what he has and should not overburden himself.’ The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘I do not like those who overburden and strain themselves.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by Ahmad from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Utaybah from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ’Can eighty dirham be given as Zakat to someone? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, and increase it.’ I then asked, ‘Can one hundred dirham be given as Zakat to someone?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can make him rich if you can do so.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A believing man should not behave formally toward his brother (in belief). One will not know which is stranger; the one who overburdens his brother to be formal or the one who behaves unnecessarily formal with his brother (in belief).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Faddal from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar ibn Musa who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was once asked about how much Zakat can be given to one person. He (the Imam) said, that abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘When you pay make him rich.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya who has said the following: “Once ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan came to me and asked, ‘Do you have anything?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I have something.’ I then sent my son and gave him two dirham to buy meat and eggs. He asked, ‘Where did you send your son?’ I then informed him about it. He said, ‘Call him back. Do you have any oil?’ I replied, ‘Yes, we have oil.’ He then said, ‘Bring it; I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, “A man who looks down on what his brother (in belief) brings for him is ruined and so also is one who looks down on what he brings for his brother (in belief).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Sa‘id ibn Ghazwan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Pay from Zakat until you make him rich (sufficient for his one year’s expenses).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Hadid from Murazim ibn Hakim from the one who has narrated it in a marfu‘ manner saying the following: “Harith al-A‘war once came to ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), and said, ‘O ’Amir al- Mu’minin, I wish you grant me the honor of having food with me. ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), said, ‘I accept your invitation, provided, that you do not overburden yourself by acting formally’. He (the Imam) went to his house. Harith brought a piece of bread and ’Amir al-Mu’minin began to eat. Al-Harith said, ‘I have a few dirham’ and he showed them. They were in his sleeves. ‘If you give permission I like to buy something for you besides these pieces of bread.’ ’Amir al- Mu’minin (a.s.), said, ‘This is what is in your house (so it is sufficient).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man who looks down on what he has for the guest is ruined.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If your brother (in belief) comes to you, then serve him with whatever you have, but if you invite him then you can act formally (as you like).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.