The Book of al-Zakat

قُلْتُ لَهُ لِي قَرَابَةٌ أُنْفِقُ عَلَى بَعْضِهِمْ وَ أُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَيَأْتِينِي إِبَّانُ الزَّكَاةِ[1] أَ فَأُعْطِيهِمْ مِنْهَا قَالَ مُسْتَحِقُّونَ لَهَا قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ هُمْ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ أَعْطِهِمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَلْزَمُنِي مِنْ ذَوِي قَرَابَتِي حَتَّى لَا أَحْسُبَ الزَّكَاةَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ أَبُوكَ وَ أُمُّكَ قُلْتُ أَبِي وَ أُمِّي قَالَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَ ا

“I once said to abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), that I pay Zakat to my relatives and give preference to certain ones among them over the others when it is time to pay Zakat. He (the Imam) asked, ’Are they deserving beneficiaries?’ I replied, ‘Yes, they deserve.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘They are better than others, you should

سَأَلَهُ‌[2] رَجُلٌ وَ أَنَا أَسْمَعُ قَالَ أُعْطِي قَرَابَتِي زَكَاةَ مَالِي وَ هُمْ لَا يَعْرِفُونَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا تُعْطِ الزَّكَاةَ إِلَّا مُسْلِماً وَ أَعْطِهِمْ مِنْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ تَرَوْنَ أَنَّمَا فِي الْمَالِ الزَّكَاةُ وَحْدَهَا مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ فِي الْمَالِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الزَّكَاةِ أَكْثَرُ تُعْطِي‌[3] مِنْهُ الْقَرَابَةَ وَ الْمُعْتَرِضَ لَكَ مِمَّنْ يَسْأَلُكَ فَتُع

“Once someone asked him (the Imam) ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when I was hearing, saying, ‘Can I pay Zakat to my relatives and they do not know (this belief)? He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not pay Zakat to anyone who is not a Muslim, but give them from other things.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘Do you think that Allah has made

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ لَهُ قَرَابَةٌ وَ مَوَالِي وَ أَتْبَاعٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص وَ لَيْسَ يَعْرِفُونَ صَاحِبَ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ أَ يُعْطَوْنَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ قَالَ لَا.

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who has relatives, friends and followers who love ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), but they do not acknowledge the owner of this issue (one who possesses Divine Authority) if he can give Zakat to them. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot give Zakat to them.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ لَهُ الزَّكَاةُ وَ لَهُ قَرَابَةٌ مُحْتَاجُونَ غَيْرُ عَارِفِينَ أَ يُعْطِيهِمْ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَا كَرَامَةَ لَا يَجْعَلُ الزَّكَاةَ وِقَايَةً لِمَالِهِ يُعْطِيهِمْ مِنْ غَيْرِ الزَّكَاةِ إِنْ أَرَادَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who owes Zakat and has needy relatives who do not know (one who possesses Divine Authority). ‘Can he give Zakat to them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot give them and it is not an honor. He must not make Zakat to guard his assets. He can give them from his other asse

خَمْسَةٌ لَا يُعْطَوْنَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ شَيْئاً الْأَبُ وَ الْأُمُّ وَ الْوَلَدُ وَ الْمَمْلُوكُ وَ الْمَرْأَةُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُمْ عِيَالُهُ لَازِمُونَ لَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Zakat cannot be given to five kinds of people: father, mother, children, slaves, and one’s wife, because they are one’s dependents for whom one must provide sustenance.’”

فِي الزَّكَاةِ يُعْطَى مِنْهَا الْأَخُ وَ الْأُخْتُ وَ الْعَمُّ وَ الْعَمَّةُ وَ الْخَالُ وَ الْخَالَةُ وَ لَا يُعْطَى الْجَدُّ وَ لَا الْجَدَّةُ.

‘Zakat can be given to one’s brother, sister, uncle, aunt (paternal and maternal); but it cannot be given to grandfather and grandmother.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع رَجُلٌ مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ لَهُ قَرَابَةٌ كُلُّهُمْ يَقُولُ بِكَ وَ لَهُ زَكَاةٌ أَ يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُمْ جَمِيعَ زَكَاتِهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who is one of your followers whose relatives all speak of you and he owes Zakat; can he pay all of his Zakat to them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَضَعُ زَكَاتَهُ كُلَّهَا فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ هُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَكَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who pays all of his Zakat to his relatives who have accepted you as their Waliy (one who possesses Divine Authority). He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الثَّالِثِ ع أَنَّ لِي وُلْداً رِجَالًا وَ نِسَاءً أَ فَيَجُوزُ لِي أَنْ أُعْطِيَهُمْ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ شَيْئاً فَكَتَبَ ع أَنَّ ذَلِكَ جَائِزٌ لَكُمْ.

‘It is permissible for you.’”

سَأَلْتُ الصَّادِقَ ع أَدْفَعُ عُشْرَ مَالِي إِلَى وُلْدِ ابْنَتِي قَالَ نَعَمْ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked al-Sadiq, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Can I give one out of ten of my asset to the children of my daughter? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is not harmful.’”

سَأَلَهُ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى أَبَاهُ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ زَكَاةِ مَالِهِ قَالَ اشْتَرَى خَيْرَ رَقَبَةٍ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

“Certain persons of our people asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has purchased with money from Zakat of his assets his own father. He (the Imam) said, ‘He has purchased the best slave and it is not harmful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَلَى أَبِيهِ دَيْنٌ وَ لِأَبِيهِ مَئُونَةٌ أَ يُعْطِي أَبَاهُ مِنْ زَكَاتِهِ يَقْضِي دَيْنَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ مَنْ أَحَقُّ مِنْ أَبِيهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man whose father is indebted and has certain expenses; if he can give his father from his Zakat to pay his debts. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, who is more deserving than his own father.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ حَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الزَّكَاةُ وَ مَاتَ أَبُوهُ وَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ أَ يُؤَدِّي زَكَاتَهُ فِي دَيْنِ أَبِيهِ وَ لِلِابْنِ مَالٌ كَثِيرٌ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ أَبُوهُ أَوْرَثَهُ مَالًا ثُمَّ ظَهَرَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَيَقْضِيَهُ عَنْهُ قَضَاهُ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْمِيرَاثِ وَ لَمْ يَقْضِهِ مِنْ زَكَاتِهِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَوْرَثَهُ مَالًا لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ أَح

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that there is a man whose father has died and he is indebted. Can he pay the debts on his father from Zakat he owes when the son has a great wealth? He (the Imam) said, ‘If his father has left a legacy for him and then it is found out that there are debts on his father that he did

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ بَعَثَ بِزَكَاةِ مَالِهِ لِتُقْسَمَ فَضَاعَتْ هَلْ عَلَيْهِ ضَمَانُهَا حَتَّى تُقْسَمَ فَقَالَ إِذَا وَجَدَ لَهَا مَوْضِعاً فَلَمْ يَدْفَعْهَا فَهُوَ لَهَا ضَامِنٌ حَتَّى يَدْفَعَهَا وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ لَهَا مَنْ يَدْفَعُهَا إِلَيْهِ فَبَعَثَ بِهَا إِلَى أَهْلِهَا فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ ضَمَانٌ لِأَنَّهَا قَدْ خَرَجَتْ مِنْ يَدِهِ وَ كَذَلِكَ الْوَصِيُّ الَّذِي يُوصَى إِلَيْهِ يَكُو

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who sends his Zakat for distribution but it is lost. Is he held responsible until it is distributed? He (the Imam) said, ‘If he had found a proper beneficiary and did not pay, he is held responsible until he pays it; but if he did not find proper beneficiary thus, sent i

إِذَا أَخْرَجَ الرَّجُلُ الزَّكَاةَ مِنْ مَالِهِ ثُمَّ سَمَّاهَا لِقَوْمٍ فَضَاعَتْ أَوْ أَرْسَلَ بِهَا إِلَيْهِمْ فَضَاعَتْ فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one takes out his Zakat and assigns it to be paid to a people but it is lost, or he sends it to them and it is lost, he is not held responsible.’”

إِذَا أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ مَالِهِ فَذَهَبَتْ وَ لَمْ يُسَمِّهَا لِأَحَدٍ فَقَدْ بَرِئَ مِنْهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one takes away Zakat from his assets but does not name the beneficiary and it is lost, he is free from his obligation.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ أَخٌ‌ لَهُ زَكَاتَهُ لِيَقْسِمَهَا فَضَاعَتْ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَى الرَّسُولِ وَ لَا عَلَى الْمُؤَدِّي ضَمَانٌ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَجِدْ لَهَا أَهْلًا فَفَسَدَتْ وَ تَغَيَّرَتْ أَ يَضْمَنُهَا قَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ إِنْ عَرَفَ لَهَا أَهْلًا فَعَطِبَتْ أَوْ فَسَدَتْ فَهُوَ لَهَا ضَامِنٌ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man whose brother sends his Zakat to distribute among beneficiaries but it is lost. He (the Imam) said, ‘The messenger is not responsible as well as the payer.’ I then asked, ‘If he does not find the beneficiary and it is spoiled or changed, is he responsible?’ He (the Imam)

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَبْعَثُ بِزَكَاتِهِ فَتُسْرَقُ أَوْ تَضِيعُ قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who sends his Zakat but it is stolen or destroyed. He (the Imam) said, ‘He does not owe anything.’”

فِي الزَّكَاةِ يَبْعَثُ بِهَا الرَّجُلُ إِلَى بَلَدٍ غَيْرِ بَلَدِهِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ الثُّلُثَ أَوِ الرُّبُعَ شَكَّ أَبُو أَحْمَدَ[1].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who sends his Zakat from one town to another town. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful to send one-third or one-fourth (uncertainty is from narrator).”’

فِي الرَّجُلِ يُعْطَى الزَّكَاةَ يَقْسِمُهَا أَ لَهُ أَنْ يُخْرِجَ الشَّيْ‌ءَ مِنْهَا مِنَ الْبَلْدَةِ الَّتِي هُوَ فِيهَا إِلَى غَيْرِهَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who gives Zakat for distribution, if he can take a certain amount to another place? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقْسِمُ صَدَقَةَ أَهْلِ الْبَوَادِي فِي أَهْلِ الْبَوَادِي وَ صَدَقَةَ أَهْلِ الْحَضَرِ فِي أَهْلِ الْحَضَرِ وَ لَا يَقْسِمُهَا بَيْنَهُمْ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ إِنَّمَا يَقْسِمُهَا عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا يَحْضُرُهُ مِنْهُمْ وَ مَا يَرَى لَيْسَ فِي ذَلِكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ مُوَقَّتٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah would distribute Zakat of the Bedouins among the Bedouins and Zakat of the town dwellers among the town dwellers. He would not distribute it among them in equal amounts, instead he would distribute it among those present without considering anything definite

كُنَّا مَعَ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ فَأَتَاهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ إِلْيَاسَ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ أَخِي بِحَلَبَ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ بِمَالٍ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ أَقْسِمُهُ بِالْكُوفَةِ فَقُطِعَ عَلَيْهِ الطَّرِيقُ فَهَلْ عِنْدَكَ فِيهِ رِوَايَةٌ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ هَذِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ وَ لَمْ أَظُنَّ أَنَّ أَحَداً يَسْأَلُنِي عَنْهَا أَبَداً فَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الرَّجُلُ يَب

“Once we were with abu Basir when ‘Amr ibn ’Ilyas came to him and said, ‘O abu Muhammad, my brother from Halab has sent to me a certain amount of goods of Zakat so I distribute in al-Kufah, but it was looted on the way. Do you have any Hadith about it?’ He said, ‘Yes, I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about this issue an

لَا تَحِلُّ صَدَقَةُ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ لِلْأَعْرَابِ وَ لَا صَدَقَةُ الْأَعْرَابِ لِلْمُهَاجِرِينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Zakat of immigrants (converts to piety and religion) is not lawful for Arabs and the charity (Zakat) of Arabs is not lawful for immigrants.’”

سَأَلَ الْمَدَائِنِيُّ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ إِنَّ لَنَا زَكَاةً نُخْرِجُهَا مِنْ أَمْوَالِنَا فَفِي مَنْ نَضَعُهَا فَقَالَ فِي أَهْلِ وَلَايَتِكَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي فِي بِلَادٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِكَ فَقَالَ ابْعَثْ بِهَا إِلَى بَلَدِهِمْ تُدْفَعُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ لَا تَدْفَعْهَا إِلَى قَوْمٍ إِنْ دَعَوْتَهُمْ غَداً إِلَى أَمْرِكَ لَمْ يُجِيبُوكَ وَ كَانَ وَ اللَّهِ الذَّبْحُ.[1]

“Once al-Mada’iniy asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and said, ‘There is Zakat on our assets. To whom should we pay it? He (the Imam) said, ‘Pay it to the people of your Wilayah, people who believe in (the Divine Authority of ’A’immah).’ He said, ‘There is no one of your followers.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Send it to where they ar

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يُعْطَى الزَّكَاةَ يَقْسِمُهَا فِي أَصْحَابِهِ أَ يَأْخُذُ مِنْهَا شَيْئاً قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man to whom Zakat is given for distribution, if he can take a certain amount for himself. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, can do so.’”

يَأْخُذُ مِنْهُ لِنَفْسِهِ مِثْلَ مَا يُعْطِي غَيْرَهُ.

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about a man to whom Zakat is given for distribution among deserving beneficiaries, if he can take a certain amount for himself even though not anything is assigned for him. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can take for himself like what he gives to another person.”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ الدَّرَاهِمَ يَقْسِمُهَا وَ يَضَعُهَا فِي مَوَاضِعِهَا وَ هُوَ مِمَّنْ يَحِلُّ لَهُ الصَّدَقَةُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ لِنَفْسِهِ كَمَا يُعْطِي غَيْرَهُ قَالَ وَ لَا يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ إِذَا أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَضَعَهَا فِي مَوَاضِعَ مُسَمَّاةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man to whom dirhams are given for distribution among deserving people and himself is a deserving person, if he can take a certain amount for himself. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful to take like what he gives to the other persons. However, it is not permissible for him

إِذَا أَخَذَ الرَّجُلُ الزَّكَاةَ فَهِيَ كَمَالِهِ يَصْنَعُ بِهَا مَا يَشَاءُ قَالَ وَ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ فِي أَمْوَالِ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ فَرِيضَةً لَا يُحْمَدُونَ إِلَّا بِأَدَائِهَا وَ هِيَ الزَّكَاةُ فَإِذَا هِيَ وَصَلَتْ إِلَى الْفَقِيرِ فَهِيَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَالِهِ يَصْنَعُ بِهَا مَا يَشَاءُ فَقُلْتُ يَتَزَوَّجُ بِهَا وَ يَحُجُّ مِنْهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ هِيَ مَالُهُ قُلْتُ فَهَلْ يُؤ

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When a person receives Zakat it is like his own property and one can use it as one likes.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made a share in the wealth of the wealthy people obligatory for the needy. The affluent people are not appreciated until they p

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ شَيْخاً مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا يُقَالُ لَهُ عُمَرُ سَأَلَ عِيسَى بْنَ أَعْيَنَ وَ هُوَ مُحْتَاجٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ عِيسَى بْنُ أَعْيَنَ أَمَا إِنَّ عِنْدِي مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ لَكِنْ لَا أُعْطِيكَ مِنْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ وَ لِمَ فَقَالَ لِأَنِّي رَأَيْتُكَ اشْتَرَيْتَ لَحْماً وَ تَمْراً فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا رَبِحْتُ دِرْهَماً فَاشْتَرَيْتُ بِدَانِقَيْنِ لَحْماً وَ بِدَانِقَيْنِ تَمْراً ثُمَّ وَ رَ

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from ‘Asem ibn Humayd from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, that among our people there is a shaykh, called ‘Umar. He asked ‘Isa ibn ’A‘yan for help bec

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا جَالِسٌ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُعْطَى مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَأَجْمَعُهُ حَتَّى أَحُجَّ بِهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَأْجُرُ اللَّهُ مَنْ يُعْطِيكَ.

“Once, a man asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when I was sitting, ‘I receive Zakat. Can I save it so I perform Hajj therewith? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so and Allah gives reward to one who gives you Zakat.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ يُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ مِنْ زَكَاةِ مَالِهِ يَحُجُّ بِهَا قَالَ مَالُ الزَّكَاةِ يُحَجُّ بِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ أَعْطَى رَجُلًا مُسْلِماً فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مُحْتَاجاً فَلْيُعْطِهِ لِحَاجَتِهِ وَ فَقْرِهِ وَ لَا يَقُولُ لَهُ حُجَّ بِهَا يَصْنَعُ بِهَا بَعْدُ مَا يَشَاءُ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who gives Zakat to a man to perform Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is Zakat money and he performs Hajj!’ I then said, ‘It is a Muslim man who gives Zakat to a Muslim man.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If he is needy, Zakat must be given to him for his needs and poverty, and one m

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَجْتَمِعُ عِنْدَهُ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ الْخَمْسُمِائَةِ وَ السِّتُّمِائَةِ يَشْتَرِي بِهَا نَسَمَةً وَ يُعْتِقُهَا[1] فَقَالَ إِذاً يَظْلِمَ قَوْماً آخَرِينَ حُقُوقَهُمْ ثُمَّ مَكَثَ مَلِيّاً ثُمَّ قَالَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ عَبْداً مُسْلِماً فِي ضَرُورَةٍ فَيَشْتَرِيَهُ وَ يُعْتِقَهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who saves from Zakat five hundred or six hundred to buy a slave and set him free. He (the Imam) said, ‘So he does injustice to another group of people.’ He (the Imam) remained quiet for a while, then said, ‘However, if the slave is a Muslim in great need, then he can buy

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَخْرَجَ زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ فَلَمْ يَجِدْ مَوْضِعاً يَدْفَعُ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْهِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى مَمْلُوكٍ يُبَاعُ فِيمَنْ يُرِيدُهُ فَاشْتَرَاهُ بِتِلْكَ الْأَلْفِ الدِّرْهَمِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ زَكَاتِهِ فَأَعْتَقَهُ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمَّا أَنْ أُعْتِقَ وَ صَارَ حُرّاً اتَّجَرَ وَ احْتَرَفَ وَ أَصَاب

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who wants to pay Zakat of his asset which is one thousand dirham but cannot find a deserving beneficiary. He then sees a slave for sale, buys him with those thousand dirhams, and sets him free. Was his act permissible? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible and it i

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ قَرْضُ الْمُؤْمِنِ غَنِيمَةٌ وَ تَعْجِيلُ أَجْرٍ إِنْ أَيْسَرَ قَضَاكَ وَ إِنْ مَاتَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ احْتَسَبْتَ بِهِ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ.

“I once heard abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ’Lending a loan to a believer is a great gain which hastens reward. If he earns, he pays you back; but if he dies before paying, you can count it as payment of Zakat.’”

كَانَ عَلِيٌّ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَقُولُ‌ قَرْضُ الْمَالِ حِمَى الزَّكَاةِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.), would say, ’Lending a loan is protection for Zakat.’”

مَنْ أَقْرَضَ رَجُلًا قَرْضاً إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ كَانَ مَالُهُ فِي زَكَاةٍ وَ كَانَ هُوَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ مَعَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَهُ.

“If one lends a loan to a man until he becomes able to pay back, his (lender’s) money is in Zakat and he is in Salah (prayer) with the angels until the loan is paid back.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلَ ع عَنْ دَيْنٍ لِي عَلَى قَوْمٍ قَدْ طَالَ حَبْسُهُ عِنْدَهُمْ لَا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى قَضَائِهِ وَ هُمْ مُسْتَوْجِبُونَ لِلزَّكَاةِ هَلْ لِي أَنْ أَدَعَهُ وَ أَحْتَسِبَ بِهِ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, the first (a.s.), about the case of my loan on a people, who have delayed payment for a long time. They are not able to pay and they are deserving beneficiaries of Zakat. Can I count it as payment of my Zakat? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ- يَكُونُ لَهُ الدَّيْنُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ فَقِيرٍ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ الْفَقِيرُ عِنْدَهُ وَفَاءٌ بِمَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ دَيْنٍ مِنْ عَرْضٍ مِنْ دَارٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ مِنْ مَتَاعِ الْبَيْتِ أَوْ يُعَالِجُ عَمَلًا يَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهَا بِوَجْهِهِ فَهُوَ يَرْجُو أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْهُ مَالَهُ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ دَيْنِهِ فَلَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يُقَاصَّهُ بِمَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يُ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man to whom another man owes a certain amount of loan who is poor to whom he wants to pay Zakat. He (the Imam) said, ‘The poor may have something in his possession or potentials, which is equal in value to the amount of loan, such as certain effects like a house, household e

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ فَرَّ بِمَالِهِ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَاشْتَرَى بِهِ أَرْضاً أَوْ دَاراً أَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَوْ جَعَلَهُ حُلِيّاً أَوْ نُقَراً فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِ وَ مَا مَنَعَ نَفْسَهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا مَنَعَ مِنْ حَقِّ اللَّهِ بِأَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who runs away from paying Zakat by means of buying a piece of land or a house, if he still owes any Zakat. He (the Imam) said, ’No, he does not owe any Zakat even if he turns his asset into jewelries and silver; there is not anything on him. However, what he has denied h

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع هَلْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُخْرَجَ عَمَّا يَجِبُ فِي الْحَرْثِ مِنَ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ الشَّعِيرِ وَ مَا يَجِبُ عَلَى الذَّهَبِ دَرَاهِمُ بِقِيمَةِ مَا يَسْوَى أَمْ لَا يَجُوزُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُخْرَجَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مَا فِيهِ فَأَجَابَ ع أَيُّمَا تَيَسَّرَ يُخْرَجُ.

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan, al-Thaniy (a.s.), and asked him (the Imam) if it is permissible to pay Zakat which is due on grains, like wheat and barley and on gold by means of dirham in equal value or is it necessary to pay from the same substance on which Zakat is due? He (the Imam) answered, ‘Whichever is availabl

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُعْطِي عَنْ زَكَاتِهِ مِنَ الدَّرَاهِمِ دَنَانِيرَ وَ عَنِ الدَّنَانِيرِ دَرَاهِمَ بِالْقِيمَةِ أَ يَحِلُّ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who pays Zakat due on dirham with dinar and Zakat which is due on dinar with dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ يَشْتَرِي الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ الثِّيَابَ وَ السَّوِيقَ- وَ الدَّقِيقَ وَ الْبِطِّيخَ وَ الْعِنَبَ فَيَقْسِمُهُ قَالَ لَا يُعْطِيهِمْ إِلَّا الدَّرَاهِمَ كَمَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if a man with Zakat (that he owes) can buy clothes, al-Sawiq (prepared food), flour, melons and grapes and distribute it among the deserving people. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot pay except by dirham which Allah, most Blessed, most High, has commanded.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ يَأْخُذُ الزَّكَاةَ صَاحِبُ السَّبْعِمِائَةِ إِذَا لَمْ يَجِدْ غَيْرَهُ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ صَاحِبَ السَّبْعِمِائَةِ تَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ الزَّكَاةُ قَالَ زَكَاتُهُ صَدَقَةٌ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ‌[1] وَ لَا يَأْخُذُهَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ إِذَا اعْتَمَدَ عَلَى السَّبْعِمِائَةِ أَنْفَدَهَا فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ سَنَةٍ فَهَذَا يَأْخُذُهَا وَ لَا تَحِلُّ الزَّكَاةُ لِمَنْ كَانَ مُحْتَرِفاً وَ عِنْدَه

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘One who has seven hundred has permission to receive Zakat if no one other than him can be found.’ I then asked, ‘Does the one who owns seven hundred owe Zakat? He (the Imam) said, ‘His Zakat is charity for his dependents and he must not receive charity (Zakat) except if he dep

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِمُحْتَرِفٍ وَ لَا لِذِي مِرَّةٍ سَوِيٍّ قَوِيٍّ فَتَنَزَّهُوا عَنْهَا.

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘Charity (Zakat) is not lawful for those who have an established profession or a resourceful one who is capable and strong, so keep yourselves clean from receiving charity (Zakat).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا لَهُ ثَمَانُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ هُوَ رَجُلٌ خَفَّافٌ وَ لَهُ عِيَالٌ كَثِيرَةٌ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَ يَرْبَحُ فِي دَرَاهِمِهِ مَا يَقُوتُ بِهِ عِيَالَهُ وَ يَفْضُلُ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ كَمْ يَفْضُلُ قُلْتُ لَا أَدْرِي قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ يَفْضُلُ عَنِ الْقُوتِ مِقْدَارُ نِصْفِ الْقُوتِ فَلَا يَأْخُذِ الزَّك

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a certain person of our people who has eight hundred dirham, works with pumice, and has a large family to feed, if he can receive Zakat. He (the Imam) asked, ‘O abu Muhammad, can he earn with his dirham the expenses of his family with a certain amount of saving?’ I

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الزَّكَاةِ هَلْ تَصْلُحُ لِصَاحِبِ الدَّارِ وَ الْخَادِمِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ دَارُهُ دَارَ غَلَّةٍ فَيَخْرُجَ لَهُ مِنْ غَلَّتِهَا دَرَاهِمُ مَا يَكْفِيهِ لِنَفْسِهِ وَ عِيَالِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنِ الْغَلَّةُ- تَكْفِيهِ لِنَفْسِهِ وَ عِيَالِهِ فِي طَعَامِهِمْ وَ كِسْوَتِهِمْ وَ حَاجَتِهِمْ مِنْ غَيْرِ إِسْرَافٍ فَقَدْ حَلَّتْ لَهُ الزَّكَاةُ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ غَلَّتُه

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about Zakat if it can be paid to one who has a house and servants. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, unless his house is income-producing from which he earns dirham which is enough for his expenses and the expenses of his family. If such income is not enough for his expenses and the expense

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ أَبُوهُ أَوْ عَمُّهُ أَوْ أَخُوهُ يَكْفِيهِ مَئُونَتَهُ أَ يَأْخُذُ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَيَتَوَسَّعَ بِهِ إِنْ كَانُوا لَا يُوَسِّعُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي كُلِّ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

about a man whose father or uncle or brother provides his expenses, if he can receive Zakat to facilitate himself further, in case they do not provide enough facilities in all the things that he needs? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ أَوْ أَرْبَعُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ لَهُ عِيَالٌ وَ هُوَ يَحْتَرِفُ فَلَا يُصِيبُ نَفَقَتَهُ فِيهَا أَ يُكِبُّ فَيَأْكُلَهَا وَ لَا يَأْخُذَ الزَّكَاةَ أَوْ يَأْخُذُ الزَّكَاةَ قَالَ لَا بَلْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى فَضْلِهَا فَيَقُوتُ بِهَا نَفْسَهُ وَ مَنْ وَسِعَهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عِيَالِهِ وَ يَأْخُذُ الْبَقِيَّةَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ يَتَصَرَّفُ بِ

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has three hundred or four hundred dirham. He has a family to feed and has a profession that he practices but he cannot earn his expenses. Is he required to restrict himself within what he earns, and not to receive Zakat, or that he can receive Zakat also. He (the Ima

نَعَمْ إِنَّ الدَّارَ وَ الْخَادِمَ لَيْسَتَا بِمَالٍ.

“Abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, were asked if a man who has a house and servant can receive Zakat. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can receive Zakat, because house and servant are not wealth.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ لَهُ ثَمَانُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ لِابْنٍ لَهُ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ وَ لَهُ عَشْرٌ مِنَ الْعِيَالِ وَ هُوَ يَقُوتُهُمْ فِيهَا قُوتاً شَدِيداً وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ حِرْفَةٌ بِيَدِهِ وَ إِنَّمَا يَسْتَبْضِعُهَا[1] فَتَغِيبُ عَنْهُ الْأَشْهُرَ ثُمَّ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ فَضْلِهَا أَ تَرَى لَهُ إِذَا حَضَرَتِ الزَّكَاةُ أَنْ يُخْرِجَهَا مِنْ مَالِهِ فَيَعُودَ بِهَا عَلَى عِيَالِهِ‌[2] يُسْبِغُ عَلَيْ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has eight hundred dirham, his son has two hundred dirham. He has ten dependents to feed. He lives with difficulty and does not have any profession. He only uses his dirham as capital to earn his living. It remains idle for months. He uses his savings for his expenses