The Prohibition of Almsgiving to Bani-Hashim in the Age of Revelation: A Historical Study

Almsgiving to Muhammad and his family is not permissible”. The order to pay alms zakat was issued in the Ninth year AH and The Prophet sent his agents to the “newly converted” Arabs to receive zakat and at the same time forbade almsgiving to the Bani-Hashim.  This report, with a historical credibility, has had a wide and long reflection in the jurisprudence and theology of Muslims so far.  There are three reasons given for issuing this prohibition: firstly, for the virtue of Bani-Hashem, then due to receiving khoms by Bani Hashim and finally because of the impurity of alms. But all those views are ambiguous and not compatible with The Prophet syrah. This paper shows that why The Prophet issued such an order. It seems that some cultural and historical factors such as the unpleasant and reluctancy of paying alms was the reason for the issuance of such a ban by The Prophet.