All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
Allah, The Almighty hasdetermined eight categories entitled to receive Zakat where He said, (What means): ( Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of God; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by God, and God is full of knowledge and wisdom.) [At-Tawbah/60].
Moreover, Islam confirms that Zakat is an established right of these eight categories and none, other than them, is entitled to receive it.
In addition, amongst the people eligible for receiving Zakat the poor and needy, yet the poor is in more need for it than the needy, because the latter is in short of money for buying something while the former doesn’t have money at all.
Further, although jobless people have social security number, they are eligible for receiving Zakat if they are literally poor. Besides, if Amman Municipality`s workers` income was insufficient for basic living costs, then they are considered needy and eligible for receiving Zakat. As for voluntary charities, it is permissible to give them to the poor, needy and to anyone else,even if he/sheisn`t one of the eight categories mentioned above. And Allah the Almighty knows best.
