Different Categories of People not Eligible to Receive the Zakaat

Answered by Dr Zakir Nain,Amongst the categories who are not eligible, those who do not fall in the 8 categories mentioned in Surah Tawbah ch. no. 9 verse no. 60 but natural are not eligible to receive Zakaat as a general rule but there are some people who may fall in the 8 categories mentioned in Surah Tawbah ch. 9 verse 60 yet they may not be eligible. First is the descendant of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 (Book of Buya) Hadith no. 2055 that “Once the Prophet sees a date fallen down and he said “I’d love to eat it but I am afraid that it may be of charity” because the thing of charity cannot be consumed by the Prophet and his family.”