Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

asslam alikum i will be very greatfull if you give me details about Halaal and Haraam for Syed`s family. please forward authantic hadeeth regarding this. i have heard that Sadqa, Khairat , zakat etc.. is not permitted to accept.

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Answer:

Charity for Syed’s families

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The Prophet (saws) declared: "Indeed, Sadaqah ought not to be given to the family of Muhammad."

(Narrated by Muslim)

Abu Hurairah reported that when al-Hasan bin Ali (r.a.) took one date from the sadaqah dates, the Prophet (saws) said to him: "Nay, spit it out! Don't you know that we cannot eat from charity?"

(Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

In light of the above authentic narrations, the scholars of Islam are unanimous that the Messenger of Allah (saws) declared the receipt of Zakat and Sadaqah haraam for not only his immediate family, but his whole tribe of Banu Hashim. Thus that includes the family and offspring of Hadrat Imam Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.), Hadrat Aqil ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.) and his offspring, Hadrat Jaafar al Tayyar (r.a.) and his offspring and Hadrat Abbas (r.a.) and his offspring.

The term ‘Syed’ has become synonymous today with those who claim to be descendants of Prophet Mohamed (saws), and Allah Alone knows best. If they indeed belong to the descendants of Prophet Mohamed (saws) or the descendants of Banu Hashim, then the taking of Zakat and Sadaqah would not be permissible for them.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan