Clarification on the Meaning of Fi Sabilillah

Out of the eight heads of expenditure of Zakat 'In the Way of Allah' i.e. Fi Sabilillah have attracted some controversies regarding its connotation in modern time. Although its traditional interpretation is still dominating the scene, however, the organistions classified, as under the single group 'Islamic movement', tend to expand its meaning and interpretation for using Zakat money for the propagation of Islam and in its revivalist struggle. In the Fifth Seminar of IFA the interpretation of term Fi Sabilillah was deliberated upon with the following conclusions.

17.1 The participants of the Seminar were unanimous in the opinion that the verse, stating the heads of expenditure of Zakat (Surah Taubah: 60), has limited its expenditure to eight heads only and this is full and final. No addition can be made to it. The inclusion of these eight heads in the said verse is factual and not supplementary.

17.2 The participants were unanimous that the meaning of Fi Sabilillah, denoting to one of the heads of Zakat, in this verse is only limited to Armed Struggle. But a few participants opined that Fi Sabilillah includes all those efforts as well, which are currently being made for the propagation and expansion of Islam.1 But the general opinion was that in spite of the great difficulties in providing funds and financial assistance to boost up Da'wah work in the present time, there is no room for extending and generalising the meaning of Fi Sabilillah to include in it all the religious and Da'wah efforts because there is no such precedent found in the early period of Islam. Moreover, diversion of Zakat funds towards Da'wah efforts will deprive the poor Muslims, which being the main purpose of Zakat.

1 These participants included: (1) Janab Shams Peerzada, (2) Ml. Sultan Ahmad Islahi, (3) Ml. Dr. Abdul Azeem Islahi. Shaikh Mehroos Al-Mudarris opined that there is generalisation in the meaning of Fi Sabilillah, Shaikh Dr. Jummah also expressed the same view.