Is it authentically reported that Ikrimah said: "The poor (fuqarā'): the poor among Muslims, and the needy (masākīn): the poor among the People of the Book"? And is it sound that 'Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb gave from the zakat to a poor person from the People of the Dhimma, saying: "This is from those about whom Allah said: {Indeed, the charities are for the poor and the needy} [Quran 9:60], and they are the infirm among the People of the Book"? And is it permissible to give zakat to the needy among the People of the Dhimma based on that?
It is not permissible to give zakat to the poor among the People of the Book, according to the majority of scholars, due to the saying of the Prophet, peace be upon him: "It is taken from their rich and returned to their poor," which restricts zakat to the poor among Muslims. Scholars have unanimously agreed on the impermissibility of giving zakat to non-Muslims, citing the Hadith of Mu'adh.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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