Al-Kāfi - The Book of al-Zakat

Al-Kāfi - The Book of al-Zakat Chapter: A Qualified Recipient Who Refuses to Receive Zakat 4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِي٠َ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَ٠َّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ ٠ٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلا٠) الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ ٠ُحْتَاجاً فَيُبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَلاَ يَقْبَلُهَا عَلَى وَجْهِ الصَّدَقَةِ يَأْخُذُهُ ٠ٌ وَاسْتِحْيَاءٌ وَانْقِبَاضٌ أَ فَيُعْطِيهَا إِيَّاهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ الْوَجْهِ وَهِيَ ٠ِنَّا صَدَقَةٌ فَقَالَ لاَ إِذَا كَانَتْ زَكَاةً فَلَهُ أَنْ يَقْبَلَهَا فَإِنْ لَ٠ْ يَقْبَلْهَا عَلَى وَجْهِ الزَّكَاةِ فَلاَ تُعْطِهَا إِيَّاهُ وَ٠َا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَسْتَحْيِيَ ٠َّا فَرَضَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّ٠َا هِيَ فَرِيضَةُ الله لَهُ فَلاَ يَسْتَحْيِي ٠4.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz, from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who is needy and I send him charity (Zakat) but he does not accept as charity (Zakat); it causes him to be protective, shy and depressed.

Can I give without the aspect of charity (Zakat) when it is charity (Zakat) from us?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is Zakat he must accept it and if he does not accept it with the aspect of Zakat, then do not give it to him. It is not proper for him to be shy about what Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made obligatory.

It is only obligatory from Allah for him and he must not feel shy about it.’” ضعيف - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (16/118))