According to the jurists, the following three types of people can be helped under al-Gharimin :
a) Whoever has a debt due to his personal needs
b) Whoever takes a debt for societal needs such as mediating, arbitrating or reconciling between people
c) Whoever acts as a guarantor
The Shafi’i school further permitted the paying of Zakat to any person who took on a financial burden to quell rife and discord between communities.
Reviewed on 30/11/2021