Directing zakat to its rightful categories of recipients
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Etiquette of Zakat & Charity
Directing zakat to its rightful categories of recipients
"Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakat] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler."
Reference: Qur'an, Surah At-Tawbah 9:60
Explanation
This verse defines the specific groups to whom zakat must be directed, rather than leaving its distribution to arbitrary preference.