Who is Entitled to Take Zakah?

Shariah has set a particular financial level for a person to be entitled to Zakah. The wisdom in it is that those leading their lives in extreme destitution would be helped out. Exclusive of debt and all such wealth being used in [the fulfillment of] Hajat-e-Asliyyah [bare necessities of life], the conditions for a person to be entitled to Zakah [i.e. Shar'i Faqir] include the following. It is also a precondition for him not to be a Hashmi or Sayyid.

1. He must not possess 7.5 Tolas of gold. [One Tola is equivalent to 11.664 grams].

2. He must not own 52.5 Tolas of silver.

3. He must not possess the amount equivalent to the price of 52.5 Tolas of silver. For instance, on 13 Sha'ban-ul-Mu'azzam 1432 AH, 16 July 2011, the cost of 1 Tola of silver is 1200 PKR [in Pakistan] and thus the amount of 52.5 Tolas of silver is 63000 PKR. Therefore, he must not have as much amount as computed in the instance [i.e. 63000].

4. Equivalent to the foregoing amount of 52.5 Tolas of silver, he must not have any sort of Mal-e-Nami [for example, merchandise, prize bonds etc.]

5. Equivalent to the same amount as stated above, he must not also have things surplus to bare necessities of life such as extra furniture, house decorating items.

6. If he possesses gold or silver in the quantity less than the one stated above, but he has such other things, along with gold and silver, which are considered and counted in rendering a person Malik-e-Nisab, so the added up total value of all such things will be considered in this case. If the added up total amount of all things is equivalent to the foregoing amount of 52.5 Tolas of silver, such a person is not also entitled to Zakah. For instance, a person has prize bonds worth 10000 PKR, 5000 PKR in cash and 1 Tola of gold whose present worth is almost 49500 PKR. When added up, the total amount of all these things reaches 64500 PKR, and the person who owns holdings to this extent is not entitled to take Zakah. Therefore, Zakah cannot be donated to him.

7. Likewise, if the amount of gold he possesses is less than 7.5 Tolas but its value is equivalent to the value of 52.5 Tolas of silver, such a person cannot take Zakah. Currently, for example, the price of just 1.5 Tola of gold is more than that of 52.5 Tolas of silver. [Therefore, if a person possesses 1.5 Tola of gold, he will not be entitled to take Zakah in this case].

If a person himself is not entitled to Zakah but his children whether boys or girls, who have reached the age of puberty, are entitled to Zakah or his wife is entitled to Zakah, so Zakah can be donated to them [such children and wife of his].