Islamic jurisprudence expertise on zakat - the 8 categories of recipients (asnaf), scholarly interpretations across madhabs, and how to assess charity alignment with zakat eligibility. Activates when working on zakat classification, wallet tags, or donor guidance.
You have deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) regarding zakat - the obligatory charitable contribution that is one of the five pillars of Islam.
This skill provides informational guidance only. It does not constitute a fatwa (religious ruling).
Zakat determination involves religious judgment (ijtihad) that varies by:
Always recommend donors consult their local scholar or imam for personal zakat decisions.
"Indeed, [prescribed] charitable offerings are only [to be given] to the poor (al-fuqara) and the needy (al-masakin), and to those who work on [administering] it (al-amilin), and to those whose hearts are to be reconciled (al-muallafatu qulubuhum), and to [free] those in bondage (fi al-riqab), and to the debt-ridden (al-gharimin), and for the cause of Allah (fi sabilillah), and to the wayfarer (ibn al-sabil). [This is] an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise."
This verse establishes the eight exclusive categories (asnaf) who may receive zakat funds.
Definition: Those whose possessions fall below the nisab threshold but who have some means.
Characteristics:
Modern applications: Working poor, underemployed, those earning below poverty line
Definition: Those in extreme poverty with little to no possessions.
Characteristics:
Modern applications: Homeless, severely impoverished, those unable to work
Note: Scholars differ on which category is more severe. Some say fuqara is worse (have nothing), others say masakin (have nothing and cannot work).
Definition: Those appointed to collect, manage, and distribute zakat.
Key requirements:
Modern applications: Staff of zakat organizations, administrative costs of legitimate zakat collection
Limit: Most scholars cap administrative costs at 12.5% (1/8th) of zakat collected.
Definition: Those brought closer to Islam or whose faith needs strengthening.
Categories:
Scholarly debate: Some Hanafi scholars consider this category suspended since Islam is now established. Other madhabs maintain it remains active.
Classical meaning: Freeing slaves, helping mukatab (slaves buying freedom)
Modern interpretations:
Note: While slavery is abolished, the principle of freeing people from bondage-like conditions remains applicable.
Definition: Those burdened with debts they cannot repay.
Two sub-categories:
Requirements:
Modern applications: Medical debt, disaster-related debt, debt from job loss
This is the most debated category. See detailed madhab analysis in resources.
Classical interpretation: Primarily jihad (armed struggle in defense of Islam)
Expanded interpretations (varying by madhab):
Conservative view: Limited to defense of Muslim lands Broader view: Any effort that serves Islam and Muslims
Definition: A traveler stranded without resources, even if wealthy at home.
Requirements:
Modern applications:
The system uses charity self-assertion, not independent judgment:
zakat_eligible = True # ONLY if charity explicitly claims zakat eligibility
Rationale: Respects that zakat determination requires religious authority. We report what charities claim, not make independent rulings.
Current deterministic routing based on tier_1 score:
| Tag | Criteria |
|---|---|
ZAKAT-ELIGIBLE | Charity explicitly claims zakat on website |
SADAQAH-STRATEGIC | No zakat claim + tier_1 score > 35 |
SADAQAH-ONLY | No zakat claim + tier_1 score ≤ 35 |
System looks for explicit signals:
Work that clearly serves one or more asnaf:
| Activity | Primary Asnaf | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Direct poverty relief | Fuqara, Masakin | High |
| Refugee assistance | Ibn al-Sabil, Riqab | High |
| Orphan support | Fuqara, Masakin | High |
| Emergency disaster relief | Fuqara, Masakin | High |
| Debt relief programs | Gharimin | High |
| Islamic education (poor students) | Fi Sabilillah | Medium-High |
| Food banks serving needy | Fuqara, Masakin | High |
| Activity | Consideration |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | Zakat-eligible if serving poor/needy specifically |
| Education | Depends on whether Islamic and/or serving poor |
| Community development | Depends on beneficiary demographics |
| Youth programs | Need to verify serving zakat-eligible populations |
Activities where zakat eligibility is questionable:
| Activity | Reason |
|---|---|
| Arts and culture | Not among 8 asnaf |
| Environmental conservation | Not among 8 asnaf |
| Animal welfare | Not among 8 asnaf (unless serving human needs) |
| Research and advocacy | Generally not direct service to asnaf |
| Mosque construction | Disputed (some scholars allow under fi sabilillah) |
| General endowments | Not direct service to asnaf |
Some charities claim "100% of zakat goes to beneficiaries":
How they achieve this:
What to verify:
Informational, not prescriptive: "This charity's work aligns with..." not "You should give zakat to..."
Acknowledge differences: "Scholars differ on whether... Some hold that... Others maintain..."
Recommend consultation: "For your specific zakat obligation, consult your local imam or scholar."
Respect donor autonomy: Present information, let donor decide
Include in all zakat-related guidance:
This assessment is informational and does not constitute a fatwa. Zakat eligibility involves religious judgment that varies by school of thought. We recommend consulting your local scholar or imam for personal zakat decisions.
src/evaluators/zakat_assessor.py - LLM-assisted classification
src/llm/schemas/baseline.py - ZakatGuidance and ZakatClaimInfo
config/scoring_weights.yaml - Keyword-based fallback classification
website/types.ts - WalletTag enum and AmalZakatGuidance interface
See detailed guides in:
resources/eight-asnaf.md - Deep dive on each category with modern applicationsresources/madhab-differences.md - How the four schools differ on zakat rulings