Preferences among the Recipients of Zakat

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the case of my gifts, for keeping good relations, to my friends and how I should do it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Give it to them on the basis of their migration to religion, intelligence and fiqh (proper understanding of Shari ‘ah).’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), if in paying Zakat priorities, such as those asking and those not asking for help can be given preference among beneficiaries. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, those beneficiaries who do not ask for help have priority over those who ask for help.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘Zakat for animals with hooves and Zakat of the cloven-footed ones are given to Muslims who maintain good-looking style but Zakat of gold, silver, and whatever is measured by measuring devices of what the earth produces is given to those who sit on dirt.’ Ibn Sinan has said that he then asked, ‘How has this become so? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because those who maintain beauty feel shy before people to ask, thus more beautiful of the two to people is given to them and the whole thing is charity (Zakat) (after all).’”

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about a man who is required to pay Zakat in the amount of one thousand dirham. He distributes it and thinks to give a certain amount to a certain person but then for some reason he gives it to someone else. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Once something was brought to the Holy prophet and he distributed it among the people of al-Suffah (the platform); but it was not enough and he gave it to special ones among them. The Holy prophet, was afraid of what might the others think. The Holy prophet came to them and said, ‘I before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, apologize to you, O people of al-Suffah. Something was brought to us and we wanted to distribute it among you but it was not enough; so we gave it to special ones among you for fear of their impatience and dismay.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, or abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about a man who keeps something for someone then for some reason gives it to someone else, has said, ‘It is not harmful.’”