Ummah Global Relief:A person who chooses to be idle and to live at the expense of society through charity and financial help despite being strong enough and capable of working and earning, is not eligible for zakah according to Shafi’ite and Hanbalite scholars, who say zakah must not be expended under the title of poor and needy to a rich person or a person capable of working at a job whose income is adequate to for personal and family need.25 In my opinion, this view is supported by the texts and principles of Shari’ah, to the extent that some Hanafites, who permit giving zakah to the poor person capable to earning, say it is not good for such a person to take zakah; i.e. if paying him is permissible, it is not lawful on his part to receive zakah. The majority of Hanafites maintain that receiving zakah is not prohibited here, but undesirable.26 Some Malikites support the Shafi’ites and Hanbalites in their view.In principle, Islam obligates working on each capable man. The state is supposed to provide jobs and economic opportunities for people to work and earn their sufficiency. The Prophet says, “No person could eat food better than that earned by his own hands work”28. It is not permitted for a person who finds a job within his ability that would give him sufficient income to refuse it and live on charity or begging. In one of his sayings, the Messenger of Islam (p) frankly states, “The sadaqah is not lawful to a rich person or a capable and not handicapped person.”29 Al Tabari reports from Zuhayr al ‘Amiri that he met ‘Abd Allah bin ‘Amr bin al ‘As and asked him to whom zakah belongs. ‘Abd Allah replied, “It is for the lame, blind, and every handicapped or disabled person.” Zuhayr asked, “Is there not a right to administrators of zakah and fighters for the sake of God?” ‘Abd Allah said, “Fighters and administrators are permitted by God in as much as their work deserves,” and continued, “The sadaqah is not lawful to the rich or the strong person who is not handicapped.”30 This last sentence of ‘Abd Allah is reported as attributed to the Prophet by ‘Abd Allah himself and several other Companions.31
Physical power and ability alone is not sufficient, because what matters is earning sufficient income. Al Nawawi says, “If a capable person cannot find employment, zakah
Fiqh al Zakah (Vol. II), Dr. Yusuf al Qardawi (Ummah Global Relief)
- Ummah Global Relief
is lawful for him, because he is unable to earn.”32 In another saying the Prophet adds this explanation. ‘Ubaid Allah bin ‘Adi bin al Khiyar narrates that two men told him they went to the Prophet and asked for some zakah. The Prophet looked at them thoroughly and found them strong and said, “If you wish, I will give you, but the rich and the strong who earn have no share in it [zakah].”33 The Prophet gave them the choice because he did not know the truth of their circumstances. They appeared to be strong and capable, but they may have not been able to find jobs that would give them income for at least sufficient subsistence. This saying is used by scholars to derive that officers of zakah are required to advise the potential zakah recipient whose real circumstances are not evident, that zakah is not lawful for the rich or the strong who can earn sufficient income.34
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