How should endowment ('Waqf') specified for 'Fi Sabilillah' (in the way of God) be distributed?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Endowments (Awqaf) and Donations
Primary text
If an endowment is designated for 'Fi Sabilillah', 'Fi Sabil ath-Thawab' (way of reward), and 'Fi Sabil al-Khair' (way of good), the 'Fi Sabilillah' portion, amounting to one-third of the endowment, is specifically directed to those entitled to the share of Zakat designated for fighting (Ghuzat) who are not listed in the official register (Diwan), even if they are wealthy. The remainder of the endowment is to be distributed to all matters that involve reward, recompense, and good, due to the general nature of the terms. According to our scholars, the endowment is to be divided into three parts: one part to the fighters; a second part to the nearest poor relatives, as they are the recipients of the greatest reward, supported by the Prophet's saying: 'Your charity to a relative is both charity and maintaining kinship.' The third part is given to those specified in the Quran as recipients of Zakat: the poor (Fuqara), the needy (Masakin), the freeing of slaves (Riqab), debtors settling their debts for their own benefit (Gharimin li maslahatihim), and travelers (Ibn al-Sabil), because these categories are explicitly mentioned in the Quran and are thus prioritized over others, even if need is equal. This aligns with the view of Imam al-Shafi'i.
Supporting text
The opposing view holds that since the term is general, there is no obligation to specify a portion for certain categories merely because they are considered superior, analogous to how one is not obliged to restrict Zakat to only poor relatives, even if they are prioritized. All general terms are treated similarly.