| name | zakat-fiqh |
| description | Islamic jurisprudence expertise on zakat - the 8 categories of recipients (asnaf), scholarly interpretations across madhabs, and how to assess charity alignment with zakat eligibility. Activates when working on zakat classification, wallet tags, or donor guidance. |
Zakat Fiqh Expert
You have deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) regarding zakat - the obligatory charitable contribution that is one of the five pillars of Islam.
When This Skill Activates
- Working on ZakatAssessor or zakat classification logic
- Generating or reviewing zakat eligibility assessments
- Writing donor guidance about zakat vs sadaqah
- Determining wallet_tag classifications
- Answering questions about asnaf categories
- Reviewing charity alignment with zakat requirements
Critical Disclaimer
This skill provides informational guidance only. It does not constitute a fatwa (religious ruling).
Zakat determination involves religious judgment (ijtihad) that varies by:
- Madhab (school of Islamic jurisprudence)
- Individual scholar interpretation
- Local religious authority guidance
Always recommend donors consult their local scholar or imam for personal zakat decisions.
The Quranic Foundation
Surah At-Tawbah 9:60
"Indeed, [prescribed] charitable offerings are only [to be given] to the poor (al-fuqara) and the needy (al-masakin), and to those who work on [administering] it (al-amilin), and to those whose hearts are to be reconciled (al-muallafatu qulubuhum), and to [free] those in bondage (fi al-riqab), and to the debt-ridden (al-gharimin), and for the cause of Allah (fi sabilillah), and to the wayfarer (ibn al-sabil). [This is] an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise."
This verse establishes the eight exclusive categories (asnaf) who may receive zakat funds.
The Eight Asnaf (Zakat Recipients)
1. Al-Fuqara (The Poor)
Definition: Those whose possessions fall below the nisab threshold but who have some means.
Characteristics:
- Have some possessions but insufficient for basic needs
- Can still strive toward self-sufficiency
- Not completely destitute
Modern applications: Working poor, underemployed, those earning below poverty line
2. Al-Masakin (The Destitute/Needy)
Definition: Those in extreme poverty with little to no possessions.
Characteristics:
- More severe need than al-fuqara
- May rely on charity for survival
- Cannot meet basic needs
Modern applications: Homeless, severely impoverished, those unable to work
Note: Scholars differ on which category is more severe. Some say fuqara is worse (have nothing), others say masakin (have nothing and cannot work).
3. Al-Amilin Alayha (Zakat Administrators)
Definition: Those appointed to collect, manage, and distribute zakat.
Key requirements:
- Must be appointed by legitimate authority
- Covers collectors, accountants, distributors
- Compensation proportional to work, not a fixed percentage
Modern applications: Staff of zakat organizations, administrative costs of legitimate zakat collection
Limit: The Shafi'i school capped administrative compensation at 12.5% (1/8th) of zakat collected — a classical minority position the other schools did not adopt (verified in Qaradawi's Fiqh al-Zakah, Vol. II). Some modern regulators (e.g., Indonesia's BAZNAS) operationalize the 1/8 figure; several contemporary fatwa bodies (e.g., the fatwas governing UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund) prefer organizations deduct nothing from zakat.
4. Al-Muallafatu Qulubuhum (Those Whose Hearts Are to Be Reconciled)
Definition: Those brought closer to Islam or whose faith needs strengthening.
Categories:
- New Muslims needing support
- Non-Muslims showing interest in Islam
- Muslims whose faith is weak and needs strengthening
- Those whose support benefits the Muslim community
Scholarly debate: Some Hanafi scholars consider this category suspended since Islam is now established. Other madhabs maintain it remains active.
5. Fi Al-Riqab (Freeing Those in Bondage)
Classical meaning: Freeing slaves, helping mukatab (slaves buying freedom)
Modern interpretations:
- Human trafficking victims
- Refugees in bondage-like conditions
- Prisoners of conscience
- Those trapped in exploitative labor
- Paying ransoms for kidnapped Muslims
Note: While slavery is abolished, the principle of freeing people from bondage-like conditions remains applicable.
6. Al-Gharimin (Those in Debt)
Definition: Those burdened with debts they cannot repay.
Two sub-categories:
- Personal debt: Incurred for permissible needs (not luxury or haram purposes)
- Community debt: Incurred while mediating disputes or for community benefit
Requirements:
- Debt must be for halal purposes
- Debtor genuinely unable to repay
- Not incurred for extravagance
Modern applications: Medical debt, disaster-related debt, debt from job loss
7. Fi Sabilillah (In the Cause of Allah)
This is the most debated category. See detailed madhab analysis in resources.
Classical interpretation: Primarily jihad (armed struggle in defense of Islam)
Expanded interpretations (varying by madhab):
- Islamic education and schools
- Da'wah (Islamic outreach)
- Building mosques (disputed)
- Hajj expenses for those who cannot afford (Hanbali view)
- General public benefit for Muslims
Conservative view: Limited to defense of Muslim lands
Broader view: Any effort that serves Islam and Muslims
8. Ibn Al-Sabil (The Wayfarer/Stranded Traveler)
Definition: A traveler stranded without resources, even if wealthy at home.
Requirements:
- Travel must be for permissible purpose
- Genuinely unable to access their wealth
- Given only what's needed to reach destination or access funds
Modern applications:
- Refugees and displaced persons
- Stranded migrants
- Those fleeing persecution
- Disaster evacuees
- Students studying abroad who lose funding
Current Codebase Approach
Self-Assertion Model
The system uses charity self-assertion, not independent judgment:
zakat_eligible = True
Rationale: Respects that zakat determination requires religious authority. We report what charities claim, not make independent rulings.
Wallet Tag System
Current deterministic routing based on tier_1 score:
| Tag | Criteria |
|---|
ZAKAT-ELIGIBLE | Charity explicitly claims zakat on website |
SADAQAH-STRATEGIC | No zakat claim + tier_1 score > 35 |
SADAQAH-ONLY | No zakat claim + tier_1 score ≤ 35 |
Zakat Evidence Detection
System looks for explicit signals:
- Keywords: "Zakat", "Zakah", "Zakat-eligible", "100% Zakat policy"
- Zakat donation options on website
- Explicit asnaf category claims
Classification Guidelines
Likely Zakat-Eligible Work
Work that clearly serves one or more asnaf:
| Activity | Primary Asnaf | Confidence |
|---|
| Direct poverty relief | Fuqara, Masakin | High |
| Refugee assistance | Ibn al-Sabil, Riqab | High |
| Orphan support | Fuqara, Masakin | High |
| Emergency disaster relief | Fuqara, Masakin | High |
| Debt relief programs | Gharimin | High |
| Islamic education (poor students) | Fi Sabilillah | Medium-High |
| Food banks serving needy | Fuqara, Masakin | High |
Requires Careful Assessment
| Activity | Consideration |
|---|
| Healthcare | Zakat-eligible if serving poor/needy specifically |
| Education | Depends on whether Islamic and/or serving poor |
| Community development | Depends on beneficiary demographics |
| Youth programs | Need to verify serving zakat-eligible populations |
Generally Sadaqah-Only
Activities where zakat eligibility is questionable:
| Activity | Reason |
|---|
| Arts and culture | Not among 8 asnaf |
| Environmental conservation | Not among 8 asnaf |
| Animal welfare | Not among 8 asnaf (unless serving human needs) |
| Research and advocacy | Generally not direct service to asnaf |
| Mosque construction | Disputed (some scholars allow under fi sabilillah) |
| General endowments | Not direct service to asnaf |
The "100% Zakat Policy" Question
Some charities claim "100% of zakat goes to beneficiaries":
How they achieve this:
- Administrative costs covered by separate sadaqah fund
- Endowment income covers overhead
- Volunteers provide free labor
What to verify:
- Is their definition of "zakat-eligible" consistent with fiqh?
- Which asnaf categories do they serve?
- How do they ensure zakat reaches only eligible recipients?
Writing Donor Guidance
Tone and Approach
-
Informational, not prescriptive: "This charity's work aligns with..." not "You should give zakat to..."
-
Acknowledge differences: "Scholars differ on whether... Some hold that... Others maintain..."
-
Recommend consultation: "For your specific zakat obligation, consult your local imam or scholar."
-
Respect donor autonomy: Present information, let donor decide
Standard Disclaimer
Include in all zakat-related guidance:
This assessment is informational and does not constitute a fatwa. Zakat eligibility involves religious judgment that varies by school of thought. We recommend consulting your local scholar or imam for personal zakat decisions.
Integration Points
ZakatAssessor
src/evaluators/zakat_assessor.py - LLM-assisted classification
Baseline Narrative Schema
src/llm/schemas/baseline.py - ZakatGuidance and ZakatClaimInfo
Scoring Weights
config/scoring_weights.yaml - Keyword-based fallback classification
Website Types
website/types.ts - WalletTag enum and AmalZakatGuidance interface
Reference Resources
See detailed guides in:
resources/eight-asnaf.md - Deep dive on each category with modern applicationsresources/madhab-differences.md - How the four schools differ on zakat rulings
External Sources
