ZAKAT NOT FOR MUHAMMAD�S FAMILY

ZakAt was meant for the needy of the ummah, but it was not to be accepted by the family of Muhammad.  The family included �AlI, Ja�far, �AqIl, �AbbAs, and Haris b. �Abd al-Muttalib and their posterity.  �Sadaqa is not permissible for us,� said the Prophet (2340).  Charity was good enough for others but not for the proud descendants of Muhammad, who in any case needed it less and less as they became heirs to the growing Arab imperialism.

But though sadaqa was not permitted, gifts were welcome.  BarIra, Muhammad�s wife�s freed slave, presented Muhammad with a piece of meat that his own wife had given her as sadaqa.  He took it, saying: �That is Sadaqa for her and a gift for us� (2351).