Title: Prohibition of Zaka'h for the Prophet (pbuh) and his Family Question: I know that one of the reasons that Zakat was forbiden for the Ale Muhammad was to avoid them being humiliated. What could be the reason that Zakat is forbidden for Ale Muhammad (Bani Hashem, Bani Abbas, etc.) at our present time when no one really distinguishes between Ale Muhammad and others? If there are poor among Ale Muhammad then how they can be helped, is there any directives of Shariat for helping them (giving that Khums does not apply to many things these days). Thanks Abu Yaheya United Kingdom Answer: The Shari'ah did not forbid Zakah for the person and progeny of the Prophet [pbuh]. The Holy Qur'an has clearly mentioned the heads on which the Zakah can be expended and it did not exclude the family of the Prophet (sws) if it falls in the list of the recipients. However, the Prophet (pbuh) did not receive Zakah not because it was forbidden for him or his progeny rather he did so as a precautionary measure against a probable malpractice of paying the Zakah money to him and his family while ignoring the deserving. He had before him example of Jews who had held it compulsory to spare the alms for the family of the Prophet Moses (pbuh). Thus the deserving would be deprived and the family of the Prophet (pbuh) would receive lots of money. This practice the Prophet (pbuh) wanted to avoid and did not receive the Zakah money. Thus, we have written in one of our earlier responses: The forbiddance of Zaka'h for the progeny of the Prophet (pbuh) is only a means of promoting an equitable distribution of Zaka'h . Had the Prophet (pbuh) not restricted the Muslims from doing so, there was a possibility that Zaka'h funds may have concentrated with the family and progeny of the Prophet (pbuh). Another thing that needs to be appreciated is that the Khums was also not meant for the family or progeny of the Prophet (pbuh) rather it meant for the Prophet (pbuh) as a messenger of God. Therefore, after his death there remained no question of the Khums or to whom should it be given. The above discussion leads to the conclusion that since the Zakah has not been forbidden for the person or progeny of the Prophet (pbuh) therefore, any one from his progeny would be allowed to accept the alms. I hope this helps Tariq Mahmood Hashmi March 18, 2003