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It has been explained clearly in Al-Quran the recipients of zakat - there are 8 categories (asnaf). Those who suffer from mishaps or accidents are not included in those groups. If that person is poor, he/ she is then included in the poor and needy group which can receive zakat. If they are not one of the asnaf, it is not obligatory for them to receive Zakat from anyone because beneficiary being one of the asnaf is one of the syara' laws of Zakat. Money given would be sadaqah and not zakat.
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In terms of the disbursement of Zakat, a person may receive Zakat if he or she is from one of the 8 asnaf. In this case, the asnaf which may be applicable to them are the poor or needy. They may then be eligible for a portion of your Zakat amount.
In Singapore, Muis is the authorized body responsible for the maslahat of the Muslim community including the Zakat system. Muis will disburse the Zakat money to all 8 asnaf according to syara'.
If the individuals you mentioned are struggling financially but is not one of the asnaf, it is not obligatory for them to receive Zakat from anyone because the beneficiary being one of the asnaf is one of the syara' laws of Zakat. The money you give would be sadaqah and not zakat.
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As commanded by Allah SWT, Zakat is different from sadaqah not only in calculation, but also in disbursement. In the context of the school of Jurisprudence of Shafi'i, it is obligatory to give Zakat to all 8 asnaf in your home country as long as they still exist there. In Singapore, Muis is the authorized body responsible for the maslahat of the Muslim community including the Zakat system. Muis will disburse the Zakat money to all 8 asnaf according to syara'. Hence it is encouraged to fulfil your Zakat via Muis. Afterwhich, we also encourage you to give any amount from the remaining 97.5% of your wealth (after 2.5% of Zakat) as sadaqah to those whom you deemed needy to help them too. In this way, you receive the blessings of both Zakat and sadaqah.
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Orphans may receive zakat if they are part of any of the 8 asnaf of zakat. But if they are not included in any of the 8 asnaf, they may receive sadaqah and not zakat.
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Zakat can only be paid to relatives if those people are not his dependant, which means it is not your responsibility to support them. The second condition is that they must be eligible to receive the zakat, that is they are among one of the 8 asnaf.
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It is not allowed for one to give Zakat to one's dependents in nafkah (by bloodline or marriage). Hence you cannot give Zakat to your own children even if they fall within the 8 asnaf.
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If a widow or a divorcee does not have working adult sons to support her, it is the reponsibility of her brothers to support her. This responsibility of providing for one's dependents in nafkah (by bloodline or marriage) cannot come in the form of giving zakat because zakat is for those who are not one's dependents who are under one's responsibility to support.
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In the context of the school of Jurisprudence of Shafi'i, it is obligatory to give Zakat to all 8 asnaf in your home country as long as they still exist there. In Singapore, Muis is the authorized body responsible for the maslahat of the Muslim community including the Zakat system. Muis will disburse the Zakat money to all 8 asnaf according to syara'. Hence it is encouraged to fulfil your Zakat via Muis.
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Muallaf, or new Muslim converts, is one of the asnaf (receipients) of zakat. It is hoped that through the financial assistance in the form of zakat, it will help these new Muslims to begin their new lives. In Singapore, this portion of zakat is administered by the Muslim Converts Association of Singapore, or Darul Arqam and to this end, Muis gives financial grants to Darul Arqam every year.
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10. |
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In terms of the usage of Zakat, you cannot use the Zakat for your family's livings expenses, as Zakat must be given through the amil and disbursed to the 8 asnaf.
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