Who can receive zakat? The eight groups named in the Quran (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:60): the poor, the needy, zakat workers, those whose hearts are to be won over, freeing captives, people in debt, in the cause of Allah, and stranded travellers. You cannot give zakat to your parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren or (according to most scholars) your spouse, but you can give it to needy brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and other relatives.
Last updated: 2 November 2026 by Ahmed.
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Who Can Receive Zakat: The Eight Categories
| # | Category | Who it means today |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fuqara (the poor) | People with little or nothing |
| 2 | Masakin (the needy) | People who cannot meet basic needs such as food, rent, school fees or medicine |
| 3 | Amileen (zakat workers) | People appointed to collect and distribute zakat |
| 4 | Muallafat ul-qulub | Those whose hearts are to be won over, for example new Muslims who need support |
| 5 | Fir-riqab | Freeing captives; some scholars include freeing people unjustly held |
| 6 | Gharimeen (debtors) | People who cannot repay debts taken for lawful needs |
| 7 | Fi sabilillah | In the cause of Allah; scholars differ on how widely this applies |
| 8 | Ibn as-sabil | Travellers stranded without money to get home |
Knowing who can receive zakat matters, because zakat given to someone ineligible does not count. In practice, the people who can receive zakat in Pakistan are mostly the first two groups and to people drowning in debt.
Who Cannot Receive Zakat From You
Just as important as who can receive zakat is who cannot:
- Your parents and grandparents, on both sides.
- Your children and grandchildren. You support them from your own money instead.
- Your spouse, according to most scholars. (Some allow a wife to give zakat to a poor husband.)
- Someone who owns wealth above the nisab, unless they fall into another category such as a stranded traveller or a heavy debtor.
- Sayyids (Banu Hashim), the family of the Prophet ﷺ, according to the Hanafi view and many other scholars. Help them from sadaqah instead.
- Non-Muslims, according to most scholars, from zakat specifically. Give them from general charity.
Which Relatives Can Receive Zakat?
You can give zakat to brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, cousins and in-laws who qualify, and it carries a double reward: zakat and keeping family ties. Many people in Pakistan first look within the family for someone in need before giving outside it.
Who Can Receive Zakat in Pakistan: Common Questions
Can my house maid or driver receive zakat? Yes, if they are eligible. But it must not be part of their salary or count as payment for their work. Give it as zakat, separately.
Can a poor student receive zakat for school or university fees? Yes, if the student (or the family) is eligible. You can pay the institution directly on their behalf.
Can zakat be used to build a mosque or a school building? Most scholars say no, because zakat must be given into the ownership of an eligible person. Use sadaqah for buildings.
Do I have to tell the person it is zakat? No. You can give it as a gift or Eid present, as long as you intend it as zakat.
Giving Through a Charity: Check Who Can Receive Zakat
Large charities and hospitals in Pakistan run separate zakat funds. Before giving:
- Check that they keep zakat separate from general donations.
- Ask how they check who can receive zakat, so it reaches eligible people.
- Prefer organisations that publish audited accounts.
- Keep your receipt. Zakat deducted under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance (for example by your bank) is a deductible allowance in your income tax return, and donations to approved non-profits can qualify for a tax credit. Ask your tax adviser how this applies to you.
Zakat deducted by your bank goes to the government’s Zakat Fund, which distributes it through provincial zakat committees.
Common Mistakes
- Giving zakat to parents or children. It does not count as zakat; support them from your own money.
- Paying staff salaries or bonuses from zakat.
- Using zakat for mosque construction instead of sadaqah.
- Giving to people who look poor without checking. If in doubt, ask gently or give through a trusted charity.
FAQ
Can my sister receive zakat from me?
Yes, if she is eligible (she does not own wealth above the nisab, or she is in debt or in need). Giving to needy siblings carries extra reward.
Can my mother or father receive zakat?
No. Parents and grandparents cannot receive your zakat. You must support them from your own money.
Can a Sayyid receive zakat?
According to the Hanafi view, which most Pakistanis follow, no. Help them through sadaqah or gifts instead.
Who can receive zakat if I give it all to one person?
Yes. You can give all of it to one eligible person or divide it among several.
Can an orphanage receive zakat?
Yes, if it is spent on eligible orphans’ food, clothes, education and needs, and the orphanage keeps zakat separate.
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