t). It is well that an appeal to unworthy
motives should be abolished, but no commentator so far as I know makes that
a reason for the cancelling of this order. It is always placed on the
ground of the triumphant nature of Islam which now needs no such support.
Contemptuous indifference, not any high moral motive was the cause of the
change.

In addition to the persons mentioned in the verse just quoted, Zakat may be
given to assist a Mukatib, or slave {222} who is working in order to
purchase his freedom. Persons who are too poor to go on a Jihad or to make
the Hajj must be assisted.

The Zakat must not be given for building mosques,[229] for funeral
expenses, liquidating the debts of a deceased person, or to purchase a
slave in order to set him free. It is not lawful to give the Zakat to
parents or grand-parents, children or grandchildren; or for a husband to
give it to his wife, or a wife to her husband; or a master to his slave.
The Sahibain[230] maintain that a wife can apply the Zakat to her husband's
wants and quote this Tradition: "A woman asked the Prophet if she could
give the Zakat to her husband. He answered 'give; such an act has two
rewards, one for the giving of charity and one for the fulfilment of the
duties of relationship.'" It should not be given to a rich man, nor to his
son, nor to his slave. The descendants of Hasham and the descendants of the
Prophet should not be the recipients of the Zakat. The Prophet said: "O
Ahl-i-Beit (men of the house), it is not lawful for you to receive Zakat,
for you get the one-fifth share of my fifth portion of the booty." So some
say that Syeds are excluded; but they demur and reply that they do not now
get a portion of the spoil of the Infidels. Zakat must not be given to a
Zimmi (a non-muslim subject).

In Muhammadan countries there are officers whose duty it is to collect the
Zakat; in India the payment is left to each person's conscience. Whilst
there is not much regularity in the payment, due credit must be given for
the care which Musalmans take of their poor.

The Sadqa (charitable offerings) form a different branch of this subject. A
full account of it will be given in the section of the next chapter which
treats of the 'Id-ul-Fitr.

{223}

5. THE HAJJ.--The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, is a farz duty, and he who
denies this fact is considered to be an infidel. "The pilgrimage to the
temple is a service due to God from those who are able to journey thi