Can we give Zakat to non-muslims?

Question

One of my colleagues asked me in Ramadhan. Is there allow to give zakat to non-muslim if he is needy one as other Muslims.

Is there clear mentioned in Quran who can get zakat?

Answer 1

No, the general rule about Zakat is that it can not be given to non-Muslims, as it can only be taken from Muslims and can only be given to Muslims.

الكفار ولو كانوا أهل ذمة: لا يجوز إعطاؤهم من الزكاة. نقل ابن المنذر الإجماع على ذلك لحديث: إن الله افترض عليهم صدقة تؤخذ من أغنيائهم وترد على فقرائهم

Kuffar be they Dhimmi or otherwise: It is not permitted to give them Zakat. Ibn al-Manzar has narrated consensus on this, and the Hadith is: "Allah has enjoined on them Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them."

^{— Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence (الموسوعة الفقهية)}

أن يكون مستحق الزكاة مسلما ً... فلا يجوز صرف الزكاة إلى الكافر بلا خلاف

The one who receives Zakat should be a Muslim ... it is not valid to give Zakat to a Kafir and there is no disagreement on this

^{— Islamic Jurisprudence and its Proofs (الفقه الإسلامي وأدلته)}

المالكية قالوا: ... ويشترط في أخذه منها أن يكون حراً مسلماً

[Maliki] ... There are three conditions for the poor and the needy to be qualified to receive zakah: They must be free, They Must be Muslim ...

الحنابلة قالوا: ... ولا يجوز دفع الزكاة للكافر

[Hanbali] ... It is not permissible to give Zakah to a Kafir

الشافعية قالوا: ... ويشترط في أخذ الزكاة من هذه الأصناف الثمانية زيادة على الشروط الخاصة لكل صنف شروط خمسة: الأول: الإسلام؛

[Shafi] ... In order for Zakah to be given to these, the following five conditions must be fulfilled: First, they must be Muslims

^{— Islamic Jurisprudence According To The Four Schools (الفقه على المذاهب الأربعة)}

The evidence for this is the Ijmah (consensus) on the matter, and the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:

إن الله افترض عليهم صدقة تؤخذ من أغنيائهم وترد على فقرائهم

Allah has enjoined on them Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them

^{— Sahih Bukhari , كتاب المغازى}

An exception that is sometimes cited is:

... إنما الصدقات ... والمؤلفة قلوبهم

Zakah expenditures are only for ... and for bringing hearts together ...

^{— Quran 9:60}

There is disagreement on exactly who these are, whether they are certain non-Muslims or new converts, and whether their share is abrogated etc. Going into details about this is probably too broad and off-topic for this question, and a cautionary approach would be to avoid areas of disagreement.

You may give other non-obligatory charity (Sadaqah) to help your colleague.