I say, and with God's success: It is not permissible to pay zakat to the Hashemite family, which includes: the family of Ali, the family of Abbas, Ja'far, Aqil, and Al-Harith bin Abdul Muttalib, may God be pleased with them, and their freedmen: meaning their emancipated slaves. It is permissible to give to others from the Hashemite family, such as the descendants of Abu Lahab; because they did not support the Prophet, peace be upon him. This is supported by his saying, peace be upon him: 'Charity is not appropriate for the family of Muhammad; it is merely the filth of people,' as mentioned in Sahih Muslim 2: 753, and Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 4: 55. And from Abu Rafi', may God be pleased with him, he said, peace be upon him: 'Charity is not lawful for us, even if it is from the freedman of the people,' in Al-Mujtaba 5: 107, and Sunan Al-Nasa'i Al-Kubra 2: 58, and Sunan Al-Bayhaqi Al-Kabir 7: 32, as in Al-Jawharah Al-Nayyirah 1: 132, and God knows best.