At IFG, we get a lot of questions about who and what qualifies for Zakat. It’s one of the most practically important questions in Islamic finance — and also one where there is a spread of scholarly opinion.

This reading list is designed to help you go deeper on the topic, understand the key debates, and form an informed view.

Why This Matters

Zakat is the Third Pillar of Islam. The Qur’an specifies eight categories of recipients in Surah At-Tawbah (9:60):

“Alms-tax is only for the poor and the needy, for those employed to administer it, for those whose hearts are attracted ˹to the faith˺, for ˹freeing˺ slaves, for those in debt, for Allah’s cause, and for ˹needy˺ travellers. ˹This is˺ an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”

Most of the categories are relatively clear.

But the one that generates the most debate — particularly in a modern Western Muslim context — is fi sabeel Allah (“in the cause of Allah”).

Historically this referred to those engaged in military jihad. The question of whether it extends to Islamic organisations, dawah work, education, advocacy, and other causes is where scholars disagree, sometimes sharply.

This reading list covers the breadth of scholarly opinion on that question and more.

Those in favour of a broader definition

There is widely used contemporary interpretation that Fi Sabilillah can include
initiatives that:

• Build long-term economic, cultural, and spiritual strength
• Strengthen and protect the Muslim community
• Defend Muslims against Islamophobia and discrimination
• Enhance civic engagement, policy influence, and representation

Here are some core texts to read:

1. Fiqh of Zakat (Volume 2) — Sh. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi

This is the most comprehensive classical-meets-contemporary treatment of Zakat in the English language. Volume 2 covers the categories of Zakat recipients in depth, including an extended discussion of fi sabeel Allah and the different scholarly positions on how broadly it should be interpreted. You can access it here.

2. Zakat Eligibility of Islamic Organizations – Dr Hatem El Haj

A detailed scholarly article exploring whether Islamic nonprofits and organisations can receive Zakat under the fi sabeel Allah category. You can read the article here.

3. Zakat Is Not Just Charity — Yaqeen Institute

This paper makes the broader case for Zakat as a transformative socio-economic institution, not just a poverty-relief mechanism. It explores the historical and jurisprudential context for understanding Zakat’s full potential, and is useful background for understanding why contemporary scholars have argued for broader interpretations of the eight categories. Read it here.

4. Giving Zakat for Political Campaigns – The Fiqh Council of North America & AMJA Fatwa

This is the most recent and arguably most significant fatwa in this space. Issued jointly on 30 January 2026 by the Fiqh Council of North America and AMJA’s Resident Fatwa Committee — signed by scholars including Dr. Yasir Qadhi, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Dr. Jasser Auda, Dr. Hatem al-Haj, and Dr. Salah al-Sawi — it addresses whether Zakat may be given to support political campaigns, framed explicitly in the context of Gaza. You can read it here.

5. Fatwa on Zakah Eligibility – Shaykh Akram Nadwi

Shaykh Akram Nadwi is a world renowned muhaddith and Islamic scholar. In this answer to a question from the public, the shaykh outlines that the 8 categories of zakat eligibility still remain open subject to certain guardrails. You can read it here.

Those in favour of a narrower definition

There is a long-established traditional view that fi sabeel Allah is a tightly defined category. Scholars in this camp hold that:

• Expanding Zakat eligibility to institutions risks diverting obligatory charity away from those who need it most
• Zakat is primarily and principally for the poor and needy — this must remain its core purpose
• Fi sabeel Allah refers specifically to those engaged in military jihad, or is effectively inapplicable today
• Islamic organisations, schools, and dawah projects — however worthy — should be funded by sadaqah, not Zakat

1. Dissenting Opinion to the Fiqh Council/AMJA Political Campaigns Fatwa (2026)

When the Fiqh Council of North America and AMJA issued their joint fatwa permitting Zakat for political campaigns in January 2026, it was not unanimous. Some members of the council published a formal dissenting opinion setting out their objections — both to the specific application and to the broader methodology of expanding Zakat categories to cover political lobbying. You can read this here.

2. Definition of Fi Sabilillah in Zakat — Darul Ifta Birmingham

A short, accessible fatwa from one of the UK’s most prominent Deobandi Hanafi institutions, issued by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah. It sets out the classical Hanafi position plainly: fi sabeel Allah in the Zakat context refers specifically to a Mujahid who lacks the means to equip himself for military service, or to a person who cannot afford to fulfil their Hajj obligation. Read here.

3. A Detailed Analysis and Comprehensive Breakdown of the FCNA/AMJA Zakat Statement — Abdul Sattar Ahmed

The most technically rigorous critique of the joint FCNA/AMJA political campaigns fatwa. Abdul Sattar Ahmed, writing from within the traditional scholarly framework, works through each of the four madhabs in turn — Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali — to argue that the fatwa cannot be supported by any of them. Read here.

Final Note

This is a genuine area of live scholarly disagreement, and the range of views is a reflection of the intellectual richness of Islamic jurisprudence, not a cause for alarm.

Whether you are a Zakat payer trying to decide where to direct your obligation, or an organisation assessing your eligibility, we encourage you to engage with these sources seriously, consult a scholar you trust, and if in doubt — be generous with your sadaqah as well.

For those looking to donate some of their zakat and sadaqah money, the IFG Community Impact Fund is available. You can find out more here. 

This is IFG’s internal charitable project. We do not take any fees from this.

Note, all Islamic scholars would consider 15% of this Fund zakat eligible. Some of those who adhere to a broader definition would consider more or all of it to be zakat eligible. We let donors decide how much they want to donate – be it zakat or sadaqah.