Question:

Assalamualaikum Mufti Sahab,

I would like to know if one can give zakah money to Syed people.

Jazakallah

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The payment of Zakah purifies one’s wealth. Zakah is the filth that has come out of the wealth of the person who has given Zakah. Therefore, it is not permissible to give Zakah to a Syed, as it is against the honor of a Syed to give him such money. Those who are wealthy should assist the Syeds through optional Sadaqah.[1]

However, if the Syed is genuinely in need and no one is available to assist with optional Sadaqah, then in such a situation to give him Zakah money is permissible as this is the lesser of the two evils. It is better that the Syed should receive Zakah money rather than having to beg others for assistance. [2]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

(Mufti) Abdul Azeem bin Abdur Rahman

[1] Fatawa Mahmudiyyah, Vol. 9, page 552, Faruqiyyah

[2] Fatawa Mahmudiyyah, Vol. 9, page 560, Faruqiyyah

Fatawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya, page 221-227, Zamzam