Zakat Guide: The 8 Asnaf Categories

The Eight Asnaf

Allah (SWT) has specified eight categories of people eligible to receive zakat in Surah At-Tawbah (9:60). Each card below pairs the classical definition with the contemporary scholarly position so you can apply it confidently and check the underlying source.

إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
“Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed for it and for bringing hearts together and for freeing captives and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the traveler — an obligation by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.”
Surah At-Tawbah (9:60)

The Poor

Al-Fuqara

الفقراء

Those who do not have enough to meet their basic needs. They possess some means but fall significantly short of the nisab threshold.

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Examples

Families unable to afford regular meals
Those without adequate clothing or shelter

Quranic basis

Quran 9:60

Scholarly position

Classical fiqh distinguishes the faqir (some means but below need) from the miskin (more destitute). Both are eligible recipients.Source: Al-Mughni — Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (d. 620 AH) (Vol. 4, Book of Zakat (Kitab al-Zakah), pp. 191–360)

The Needy

Al-Masakin

المساكين

Those in a state of destitution, possessing nothing or almost nothing. Their condition is more severe than the fuqara.

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Examples

Homeless individuals
Those with absolutely no source of income

Quranic basis

Quran 9:60

Scholarly position

The Hanafis hold the miskin to be needier than the faqir; the majority view (Maliki, Shafi`i, Hanbali) holds the reverse. Practically both are due support.Source: Al-Mawsu`ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah — Kuwait Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs (Entries on Zakah, Asnaf, Hawl, Nisab)

Zakat Collectors

Al-`Amilin Alayha

العاملين عليها

Those appointed to collect, distribute, and administer zakat funds. They receive compensation from the zakat fund itself, even if not poor.

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Examples

Zakat fund administrators in formal Islamic institutions
Charitable organizations operating dedicated zakat programs

Quranic basis

Quran 9:60

Scholarly position

Classical view: those formally appointed by the Islamic state. Modern application: workers of registered, audited zakat funds (e.g. Zakat Foundation, NZF) qualify; ordinary charity overhead does not.Source: Fiqh al-Zakah — Yusuf al-Qaradawi (d. 1444 AH / 2022 CE) (2 vols., 1973; English translation by Monzer Kahf, 2000)

Those Whose Hearts Are to Be Reconciled

Al-Mu'allafat Qulubuhum

المؤلفة قلوبهم

New Muslims who need support to strengthen their faith, or those whose hearts are inclined toward Islam.

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Examples

New converts needing community support
Those exploring Islam who need assistance

Quranic basis

Quran 9:60

Scholarly position

The Hanafi school holds this share lapsed after `Umar (RA) discontinued it. The Shafi`i, Maliki, Hanbali, and most contemporary scholars hold it remains valid.Source: Position on whether the share for al-mu'allafa qulubuhum still applies — Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Fiqh al-Zakah Vol. 2, ch. 5 (Fiqh al-Zakah, Vol. 2)

Freeing Captives

Fi al-Riqab

في الرقاب

Originally for freeing enslaved people. In modern context, scholars extend this to ransoming Muslim captives, freeing victims of human trafficking, and aiding those unjustly imprisoned.

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Examples

Anti-human-trafficking organizations rescuing victims
Funds to ransom Muslim captives or hostages
Legal aid for those unjustly imprisoned

Quranic basis

Quran 9:60

Scholarly position

Classical: freeing slaves through mukatabah contracts. Contemporary scholars (ECFR, IFA, Qaradawi) extend the category to freeing those held in modern forms of bondage.Source: Application of fi al-riqab to modern human trafficking — European Council for Fatwa and Research; Fiqh al-Zakah Vol. 2 (ECFR session resolutions; Fiqh al-Zakah, Vol. 2 ch. 5)

Those in Debt

Al-Gharimin

الغارمين

People burdened with debts they cannot repay, provided the debts were incurred for permissible reasons and not through extravagance or sin.

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Examples

Those with medical debts they cannot pay
Families in debt due to unexpected emergencies
Those who took on debt to mediate disputes or aid others

Quranic basis

Quran 9:60

Scholarly position

Two recognized sub-types: (1) those in debt for personal lawful needs and unable to repay; (2) those who took on debt to settle a dispute or relieve others — eligible even if otherwise wealthy. Interest-bearing or sinful debts are excluded.Source: Al-Mughni — Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (d. 620 AH) (Vol. 4, Book of Zakat (Kitab al-Zakah), pp. 191–360)

In the Cause of Allah

Fi Sabilillah

في سبيل الله

Those striving in the path of Allah. The classical majority restrict this to fighters; many contemporary scholars extend it to dawah, Islamic education, and institution-building.

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Examples

Mujahidin (classical narrow reading)
Islamic educational institutions and dawah programs (contemporary broad reading)
Building masajid and Islamic centres (where the Hanbali / contemporary view permits)

Quranic basis

Quran 9:60

Scholarly positions

Narrow (classical majority including all four madhahib in their dominant position): restricted to volunteer fighters in defence of Islam.Source: Scope of fi sabilillah — narrow (military) vs. broad readings — Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Fiqh al-Zakah; Wahbah al-Zuhayli (Fiqh al-Zakah Vol. 2; Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh Vol. 3)
Broad (Qaradawi, IFA, many modern scholars): includes dawah, Islamic education, and any project that actively supports the cause of Islam.Source: Scope of fi sabilillah — narrow (military) vs. broad readings — Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Fiqh al-Zakah; Wahbah al-Zuhayli (Fiqh al-Zakah Vol. 2; Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh Vol. 3)

The Wayfarer

Ibn al-Sabil

ابن السبيل

Travelers who are stranded or in need during their journey, even if they are wealthy at home. The key is that they are cut off from their resources while traveling.

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Examples

Stranded travelers without funds
Refugees displaced from their homes
International students unexpectedly cut off from family support

Quranic basis

Quran 9:60

Scholarly position

All four madhahib agree: the traveler is supported with what gets them home or completes their journey, even if they are well-off in their home country. Refugees are widely treated as a contemporary application.Source: Fiqh al-Zakah — Yusuf al-Qaradawi (d. 1444 AH / 2022 CE) (2 vols., 1973; English translation by Monzer Kahf, 2000)

Full sources & references

Every fiqh claim in this app (nisab, rate, hawl, asset classifications) is backed by an explicit source. Browse the full list to verify or learn more.

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