Imaam Ibn Qudaamah Al-Maqdisi -rahimahullaah-
Said:
The Attributes of the Recipient.
Know verily that, the recipient of zakah must be among the eight categories of legally qualified beneficiaries as mentioned in the Qur’an.
Allah says:
“Assadaqaat are only for the poor and the needy, and the officials appointed over them, and those whose hearts are made to incline to truth and the ransoming of captives and those in debts and in the way of Allah and the wayfarer..” suratu Attwabah, verse 60.
Thus, some of the characteristics of the recipients are mentioned below:
1. The recipient should understand that Allah Has made giving out zakah waajib upon the donor to him in order to meeting up his needs. Therefore, the recipient should make seeking the pleasure of Allah alone as his optimum goal in this world.
2. He should show gratitude to the giver of the zakah and he should pray for him on his behalf. By so doing, he has expressed his appreciation to the giver of the zakah. For whosoever does not thank people does not thank Allah.
This is in accordance with a hadith reported from Abu Hurairah radiyallaahu anhu- who said- The Messenger of Allah salallaahu alayhi wasallam said:
“Whosoever does not thank people, does not thank Allah.”
Transmitted and recorded by Imaam At-Tirmidhi in his ‘Sunan’#2020. Shaykh Al-Albaani graded it as sahih in ‘Sahihu At-targheeb wat-tarheeb’#909.
However, this form of voicing gratitude to the donor of the zakah should not exceed the limit of thanking an intermediary(Asbaab) whom Allah, in his infinite mercy decrees to give that charity, while Allah remains the source of all blessings.
Moreover, the recipient should not see the zakah too small or insignificant. Rather, he should cover the faults and see the zakah given to him to be much and appreciate what Allah Has apportioned to him.
3. The recipient should accept only what is lawful in the sharia.
4. He should take only what meets his need. If he is that who is in debts, then he should take the amount he can use to pay the debt.
Allaahu A’alam! Baarakallaahu feekum!
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