The eight categories that Zakat can be paid to:

Category #4: To soften the hearts

Explanation:
Preservation of faith is a main objective of Islam. This includes the faith of Muslims as well as those whose faith may be blossoming and those who need to be opened up to the idea of Islam being acceptable. To protect the faith of these people is an objective of Islamic law.

Any act that would preserve a person’s Islam or prevent Islam from being disparaged, would fall into this category. New convert programs, early learning programs, media campaigns to combat bigotry, and similar are examples of how this category can be spent. Consult a qualified specialist to see if the organization or cause you want to give to qualifies. To this group of scholars the methods used to serve “in God’s path” are numerous, and given the generalities of the texts encompass more than just armed struggle, but extend to every legitimate act that helps to promote Islam as God’s highest word.

How Peaceful Families Project Qualifies:
Due to the misrepresentation of Islam in western media outlets, many non-Muslims (as well as Muslims who may not be completely familiar with the sunnah), have come to perceive Islam as a way of life with little respect for women; with systems of oppression and injustice as it’s core foundation. The work of PFP includes: training, researching and promoting Islamic models of marriage, and healthy family functioning. PFP introduces participants to the Quranic underpinnings and hadith that truely represent Islam’s foundations of human rights and protection of women. This creates an understanding of the guidance that binds Muslims to the maintenance and respect of their faith traditions. These actions may also open the hearts of non-Muslims to accept Islam as a leader in the areas of justice, human dignity, and peace.

Category #5: In manumission

Explanation:
Zakat should also be used to abolish all forms of human subjugation. It is important to note here that peonage, human trafficking, child labor, and slavery still exist in the modern world and most societies are guilty of illegal bondage, even Muslim ones.

Chattel slavery (the type that comes to mind for most western audiences) is forbidden in Islam, due to this hadith and many other texts. Some examples of this in the modern world are the Zamindari Nizam in the Indian sub-continent, farming peonage in the American South, and child labor in Southeast Asia. Programs that seek to free people from these situations are eligible for assistance under this category of zakat.

How Peaceful Families Project Qualifies:
PFP’s work in educating participants about the Islamic mandates against Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse, Gender Based Violence and (to a lesser extent) Child Abuse promotes the Islamic foundations and ideals of justice and human rights. Our work in training, education, creating educational resources and focus on both victims and perpetrators in these systems will, insha’Allah lead to their enlightenment and ceasing of these activities. PFP’s Director of Muslim Providers and DV Toolkit gives victims of Domestic Violence actual pathways to protect themselves and escape from these situations and systems.

Category #7: In God’s path (fi sabilillah)

Explanation:
When explaining the meaning of “In God’s path”, most medieval scholars specified this category as applying to those fighting in God’s path, i.e. engaged in some form of armed, physical struggle for the victory of an Islamic nation. There are conditions for zakat to be given to such people: they must be non-conscripted soldiers, fighting under a legitimate sovereign Muslim ruler, and have no salary or stipened of their own.

Later scholars expanded this meaning, saying that any attempt to establish God’s word as highest is eligible for this category. Jihad is many types, spanning personal struggles to armed resistance against oppression. In the Makkan period, the first type of Jihad mentioned in the Quran was the Jihad of the Quran, i.e. calling people to faith with God’s book, good manners and rational debate. This happened before any armed struggle existed. There is concurrence among scholars that if a means to call to God’s path and persuade people’s hearts exists, then armed resistance is not an option. (Ibn Taymiya, al-Hisba). To this group of scholars the methods used to serve “in God’s path” are numerous, and given the generalities of the texts encompass more than just armed struggle, but extend to every legitimate act that helps to promote Islam as God’s highest word.

How Peaceful Families Project Qualifies:
PFP’s training and materials are based on providing the Muslim ummah information and resources to become familiar with the Islamic model of peaceful and harmonious family functioning and to confront the social evil of Domestic Violence in their families, communities, and globally. The most potent of dangers to the Muslim community are not external, but when the community of believers cease to uphold their own core values. PFP reminds Muslims what are the dictates of our deen so that we can follow and achieve the blessings they entail.

Zakat Distribution Guidelines Summary

For those collecting Zakat, they should be given a fair wage, but no more than ⅛ of the total collected.

For Categories 4-8:
Zakat given to these categories is dictated by actual need and overall social benefit It should be paid on their behalf to their creditors or the services they need. It is not recommended to give cash directly They should exhibit need by providing bills, receipts, etc. of the expenses involved Even though these categories receive zakat, social assistance of the less fortunate must not be neglected (Pg.81)

Example of Non-profit organization that is Zakat Eligible:

Why CAIR qualifies for Zakat