QUESTION:

What do the noble ulamā say regarding this that we have heard that it is forbidden to give Zakāt to a Hāshimī or a Sayyid, what is the difference between a Hāshimī and a Sayyid?

Questioner: Sayyid Imran Hussayn

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

It is correct that Zakāt cannot be given to Banū Hāshim, nor can a Hāshimī give another Hāshimī Zakāt. The meaning of Hāshimī is the offspring of the sons of Sayyidunā ‘Abd al-Muttalib, Sayyidunā al-‘Abbās and Hārith and the offspring of his grandsons Sayyidunā ‘Alī, Sayyidunā Ja’far and Sayyidunā ‘Aqīl (May Allah be pleased with them).  Whereas the offspring of Sayyidunā ‘Alī (may Allāh ennoble his face) through Sayyidah Fātimah (May Allah be pleased with her) and the offspring of Sayyidunā Hasan and Sayyidunā Husayn (May Allah be pleased with them both) are referred to as Sayyid.

Every Sayyid is indeed a Hāshimī but it is not necessary that every Hāshimī be a Sayyid. Sayyidunā ibn ‘Abidīn al-Shāmī (May Allah shower him with mercy) states:

“Zakāt can be given to the offspring of any person when they are poor Muslims except for the offspring of ‘Abbās and Hārith and the offspring of Abū Tālib from ‘Alī, Ja’far and ‘Aqīl.”

Sayyidī al-Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān (May Allah shower him with mercy) states:

“Zakāt is definitely forbidden for the noble Sādāt and all Banū Hāshim. There is ijmā’ (scholarly consensus) established upon this prohibition from our three leading Imāms [of the Hanafī school], rather there is ijma’ established upon it from the leaders of the four Madhāhib. Al-Imām al-Sha’rānī (May Allah shower him with mercy) sates in ‘al-Mīzān’:

“The four Imāms agreed upon the prohibition of obligatory sadaqah upon Banū Hāshim and Banū Abd al-Muttalib and they are five families; the children of ‘Alī, al-‘Abbās, Ja’far, ‘Aqīl and al-Hārīth ibn Abd al-Muttalib. This is from the matters of scholarly consensus and agreement.”

[Fatāwā Ridwiyyah Vol 10 page 99]

Sadr al-Sharī’ah, Badr al-Tarīqah Muftī Amjad ‘Alī al-A’zhamī (May Allah shower him with mercy) mentions:

“Banū Hāshim cannot be given Zakāt. Neither a non-Hāshimī can give them Zakāt nor can one Hāshimī give it to another Hāshimī.  Banū Hāshim are the children of Sayyidunā ‘Alī, Sayyidunā Ja’far, Sayyidunā ’Aqīl and Sayyidunā ‘Abbās and Hārith ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib. Apart from these those who did not support the Prophet ﷺ, for example Abū Lahab, even though this disbeliever was a son of Sayyidunā ‘Abd al-Muttalib, but his offspring is not counted amongst Banū Hāshim.”

[Bahār e Sharī’at Vol1 page 931]

الله أعلم عز و جل و رسوله أعلم صلى الله تعالى عليه وآله و سلم

Answered by Mufti Fudayl Ridā al-Attārī
21st Rabī al-Akhir 1431 AH (7th April 2010)

Translated by Ustādh Ibrar Shafi

Source: Dār al-Iftā Ahl al-Sunnah (Da’wat e Islami)

Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0670] Who is classed as a Hashimi or Sayyid and can we give Zakah to them?

Also see:

[Q-ID0440] Can a sayyidah woman marry a non-sayyid man?

[Q-ID0277] Should we respect Sayyids who hold incorrect beliefs?

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