The Philosophy of Zakāt — Page 8
8 The Spending of Zak ā t In the earliest period of Islam, the method of paying Zak ā t adopted by the Companions was that they used to pay all that was left after their personal needs. But gradually a scale was worked out until the Chapter Al - Tauba was revealed before the Fall of Me cca in 8 AH and the following verse was revealed : ‘The alms are only for the poor and the needy and for those employed in connection therewith, and for those whose hearts are to be reconciled and for the freeing of slaves, and for those in debt, and for the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer - an ordinanc e from Allah. And Allah is All Knowing, Wise. ’ ( 9:60 ) In the above verse Allah has outlined the spending of the Zak ā t in eight different categories and these are as follows: 1. The Poor The poor are those people who depend upon others for subsistence. Among these are included the disabled persons also who cannot earn and who depend upon others for their daily needs. Among them are included also one or more of those who cannot earn as much as required for normal subsistence and may even be reduced to the point of starving. Among this category are included those who are engaged in the service of the faith and who