Who is considered wealthy (Ghani) and thus ineligible to receive Zakat funds?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Deposits
Primary text
A person possessing sufficient means (Maksub) to provide for himself and his dependents, securing a day's sustenance from rent, the proceeds of a slave, or livestock, is considered wealthy and ineligible to receive Zakat. This view is held by Ibn Umar and Al-Shafi'i. The criterion is self-sufficiency, as Zakat is considered the 'filth of the people' and is only permissible for the truly needy. The evidence for excluding the wealthy is the tradition narrated by Abdullah ibn Adi ibn al-Khiyar, wherein the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, stated, 'There is no share in it (Zakat) for a wealthy person, nor for a strong earner.' This narration was authenticated by Imam Ahmad, who considered it the soundest chain regarding this issue.
Supporting text
Abu Hanifa holds that a person is ineligible for Zakat only if they possess the *Nisab* (statutory minimum wealth for Zakat obligation). He bases this on the Prophet's statement, 'Inform them that charity is taken from their wealthy and returned to their poor,' interpreting the wealthy as those from whom Zakat is taken (i.e., those possessing Nisab). He reasons that one without a Nisab, or its equivalent value, may take Zakat, similar to one lacking sustenance.