Poor

Faqīr (Arabic: الفَقير, Poor) or Miskīn (مِسْکين) in jurisprudence is a person who cannot afford to cover the annual expenses of himself and his family. This word has different meanings in the Qur'an, hadiths and moral and mystical sources.

In categorization of people who are entitled to receive zakat, the two titles of "faqir" and "miskin" are defined similarly; but, they are different. Some jurists believe that a faqir (poor person) who is a descendant of Hashim b. 'Abd Manaf, great grandfather of the Prophet (s) cannot receive obligatory zakat from non-Sayyid persons.

Meaning

"Faqir" or "miskin" who are considered in jurisprudence among those entitled to receive zakat refers to a person who cannot afford to cover the annual expenses of himself and his family. In most verses of the Qur'an, the attribute "faqir" refers to a person financially in need, but in the Qur'an 35 and Qur'an 47 where the relationship with God is discussed, it refers to the relation of human being in creation. In some hadiths, poverty is admired, while in some others, it is seriously criticized. Some have justified the two groups of hadiths saying that hadiths admire voluntary poverty, spiritual needfulness of human being toward God and simple living and consider criticized poverty referring to an imposed and abnormal situation which would lead to disbelief and dishonor.

In moral and mystical sources, the attribute "faqir" is given to a person who has voluntarily withdrawn from the world. Also, some consider expressing the need to people, as the criticized poverty in hadiths and the need to God, as the honorable poverty the Prophet (s) mentioned. In Sufi sources, "faqir" refers to a person who does not become needful of anything.

Difference between "Faqir" and "Miskin"

"Faqir" is a person who has a problem in covering the annual expenses of himself and his family while he has a job; but, "miskin" is a person who neither has a job nor the ability to cover the annual expenses of himself and his family.

The Rule of Zakat regarding "Faqir"

Obligatory zakat is entitled to a "faqir" person who is unable to cover the annual expenses of himself. A poor and needy person from descendants of Hashim, the great grandfather of the Prophet (s) cannot receive obligatory zakat from non-Sayyid persons.