Definition of a poor person (faqir)

Question

Zayd, according to the principles of the Shafi‘i and Hanafi schools, is not the owner of nisab; therefore zakat is not obligatory upon him. Is it permissible for Zayd to receive zakat or not? If it is permissible, then to which category does Zayd belong? If he belongs to the category of the needy (masakin), then what is the definition and explanation of the masakin?

Answer

A person who does not possess wealth equal to the nisab amount — that is 52.5 tolas of silver (approximately 612.36 grams of silver) — is entitled to receive zakat. Such a person is called faqir (poor) in Islamic law. Some scholars have given this definition of a miskin (destitute person).

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