Who can receive zakat? The eight categories in the Qur'an

Zakat is not charity in the loose sense. It is an obligation, so who receives it matters. The Qur'an sets out the categories itself.

“Alms are only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect them, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing captives, those in debt, the cause of Allah, and the stranded traveller.”

— Surah at-Tawbah, 9:60

The eight at a glance

1. The poor (fuqara) — people with almost nothing to meet their needs.
2. The needy (masakin) — people who have something, but not enough to live on.
3. Zakat workers — those who collect and distribute it.
4. Reconciling hearts — people whose hearts are to be drawn closer to Islam.
5. Freeing captives — releasing people from bondage.
6. Those in debt — people who borrowed for a lawful need and cannot repay.
7. In the cause of Allah — people and efforts serving the faith.
8. The stranded traveller — someone in hardship on a journey, even if wealthy at home.

Before you give

• Zakat cannot go to your own parents, children or spouse.
• Keep zakat money in a separate fund so it does not mix with other spending.
• If anything is unclear, ask a trusted scholar.

To work out how much you owe, try our zakat calculator.