Workers Employed in Collecting and Distributing Zakat & their Rulings Between Classical and Contemporary Jurisprudence

Al-‘?mil?n ‘al? al-Zak?h (those employed to administer zakat) constitute one of the eight categories of zakat beneficiaries (a?n?f al-zak?h) mentioned in the Qur’an. They are entitled to receive a portion of zakat as compensation for their duties, which include collecting and distributing zakat, as well as related administrative tasks such as zakat calculation and management. This category is further divided into several subgroups based on the nature of their responsibilities. There are specific conditions governing al-‘?mil?n ‘al? al-zak?h, some of which are agreed upon by consensus (ijm?‘), while others are subject to scholarly debate. Additionally, modern scholars, fatwa institutions, and fiqh councils have discussed contemporary issues and applications related to this category. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the concept of al-‘?mil?n ‘al? al-zak?h according to classical Islamic scholars, their classifications based on different considerations, as well as the conditions and rulings associated with them in both traditional and contemporary contexts. This study adopts a descriptive and analytical approach, emphasising istidl?l (legal reasoning), critical discussion, and tarj?? (weighing of opinions). The research relies on primary sources in fiqh and other relevant disciplines.