7. Allah's Cause

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The seventh is: “for Allah’s Cause”.

What is meant here is jihad for the sake of Allah and nothing else. It is not correct to say that it means all kinds of goodness or charity, because if what is meant was all kinds of goodness or charity, there would be no point in Allah limiting it and saying (interpretation of the meaning):

إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ...

“As-Sadaqat (here it means zakah) are only for the Fuqara (poor), and Al-Masakin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s Cause (i.e. for Mujahidun — those fighting in a just battle), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.”

[al-Tawbah 9:60] 

In that case, this limitation (innama, translated here as “only”) would have no meaning. What is meant by “for Allah’s Cause” is jihad for the sake of Allah. Zakah should be given to those who are fighting for the sake of Allah, who are evidently fighting so that the word of Allah will be supreme. They should be given whatever they need of zakah in the form of money, weapons and so on. It is permissible to buy weapons for them from the zakah funds so that they may use them for fighting, but it is essential that the fighting be for the sake of Allah.

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Fighting for the sake of Allah was explained by the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he was asked about a man who fought for his tribe, or because he is brave, or to show off: which of them was fighting for the sake of Allah?

He said: “The one who fights so that the word of Allah may be supreme is the one who is fighting for the sake of Allah.” The man who fights for tribal or nationalistic reasons is not fighting for the sake of Allah and does not deserve what the one who fights for the sake of Allah deserves, whether that is material things in this world or reward in the Hereafter. The man who fights for the sake of courage, because he loves to fight because is brave – and the one who has a characteristic usually loves to do that no matter what the situation – is not fighting for the sake of Allah either. The one who fights to show off is fighting to earn a reputation, and he is not fighting for the sake of Allah. None of them are fighting for the sake of Allah, so they are not entitled to zakah, because Allah says “and for Allah’s Cause”. The one who is fighting for Allah’s Cause is the one who is fighting so that word of Allah will be supreme.

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The scholars said:

“for Allah's cause” includes a man who devotes his time to seeking Islamic knowledge. He may be given zakah for whatever he needs of maintenance, clothing, food, drink, accommodation and books of knowledge that he needs, because Islamic knowledge is a kind of jihad for the sake of Allah.

Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“There is nothing equivalent to knowledge for one who has the right intention.”

Knowledge is the basis of all shari’ah, and there is no shari’ah except with knowledge. Allah revealed the Book so that people would establish justice and learn the rulings of their religion and what they are required to believe, say and do. With regard to jihad for the sake of Allah, it is one of the noblest of deeds, and it is the pinnacle of Islam, and there is no doubt concerning its virtue, but knowledge is extremely important in Islam, and there is no doubt that it may be included under the heading of jihad