Al-Tawbah, the ninth chapter of the Quran, lists the eight classes of people eligible to receive zakat.
The list appears in Quran 9:60. It includes the poor, the needy, zakat administrators, people whose hearts are to be reconciled, those in bondage, debtors, people working in God’s cause, and stranded travellers. English translations use slightly different wording for some categories.
This verse is the basis for the commonly cited number of eight recipient categories. It does not mean that every zakat payment must be divided equally among all eight groups. Eligibility and distribution are interpreted through Islamic law, local circumstances, and the donor’s religious tradition.
Al-Tawbah is also known as Bara’ah and is notable among Quran chapters because it traditionally begins without the basmala formula. The chapter’s subject matter includes treaties, conflict, repentance, and communal responsibilities, not only charity.