Garchi zakot Qur'onda keng ma'noda zikr etilgan bo'lsa-da, uni sarflash mumkin bo'lgan joylar Qur'onning o'zida aniq ko'rsatilgan; ular hukmdorlar yoki fikr bildiruvchilarning xohishiga ko'ra hal qilinmaydi. Payg'ambar ﷺ zamonida ba'zi ochko'z kishilar zakot mablag'laridan bir qismini olishga urinishdi, ammo Payg'ambar ﷺ ularga e'tibor bermagach, ular uni shunchalik tanqid qilib, haqorat qildilarki, Xudo ularning ochko'zligini qoralovchi va munofiqliklarini fosh etuvchi oyatlarni nozil qildi. O'sha oyatlarning o'zida zakotga haqli bo'lgan toifalar ham nomlab o'tilgan: {Ulardan kimlarkim sadaqotlar taqsimida seni ayblaydilar. Agar ulardan biror narsa berilsa, rozi bo'ladilar, agar berilmasa, mana, g'azablanadilar. Agar ular Xudo va Uning Elchisi bergan narsaga qanoat qilib: "Bizga Xudo yetarli, Xudo va Uning Elchisi o'z fazlidan bizga yana beradi, biz faqat Xudoga umid bog'laymiz", desalar edi, bu ular uchun to'g'riroq bo'lardi. Sadaqotlar faqat faqirlar, miskinlar, ularni yig'ishga mas'ul bo'lganlar, qalblari islomga yaqinlashtirilganlar, asir va qarzdorlar uchun, Xudo yo'lida va yo'lovchi uchun berilgandir. Bu Xudo tomonidan farz qilingan; Xudo bilimli va hikmatlidir.}3
Although zakah is discussed in the Qur'an as an inclusive concept, the areas where it can be spent are specifically mentioned in the Qur'an; they are not left to rulers or opinionators to decide according to their whims. At the time of the Messenger (p), some greedy individuals attempted to take some proceeds of zakah, but when the Prophet did not give them attention, they criticized and censured the Prophet so much that God sent verses deploring their greed and uncovering their hypocrisy. Those same verses go on to name the categories that deserve zakah: "And among them are men who slander thee in the matter of the distribution of sadaqat. If they are given part thereof, they are pleased, but if not, behold, they are indignant. If only they had been content with what God and His Apostle gave them, and had said, 'sufficient unto us is God, God and His Apostle will soon give us of His bounty, to God do we turn our hopes.' That would have been the wise course. The sadaqat are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the funds, for those whose hearts have been recently reconciled to Truth, for those in bondage and in debt,. in the cause of God, and for the wayfarer. Thus is it ordained by God, and God is full of knowledge and wisdom."3
Abu Dovud Ziyod ibn al-Horis as-So'diydan rivoyat qiladi: "Men Alloh elchisi (p) huzuriga kelib, unga bay'at berdim." Rivoyatchi uzun bir hikoyani aytib bo'lgach, davom etadi: "Bir kishi Nabiy ﷺ huzuriga kelib dedi: 'Menga sadaqa mollaridan biror narsa bering.' Alloh elchisi (p) dedi: 'Alloh sadaqani taqsim qilishni na Nabiyga va na boshqa birovga topshirmagan. Uni O'zi sakkiz toifaga taqsim qilishni belgilagan. Agar sen shu toifalardan birortasiga mansub bo'lsang, men senga haqqingni beraman.'"4
Abu Daud reports from Ziad bin al Harith al Sada'i, "I came to the Messenger of God (p) and gave him my pledge." The narrator recounts a long story and then continues, "A man came to the Prophet and said, 'Give me some of the proceeds of the sadaqah.' The Messenger of God (p) said, 'God does not leave the distribution of the sadaqah to a Prophet or anyone else. He Himself ordains the distribution to eight categories. If you are in any of these categories, I will give you what you deserve.'"4