Why did the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbid charity to his household, i.e. his family and relatives? In other words, why was Zakaah made unlawful for them?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is proven, in Al-Musnad and Saheeh Muslim, on the authority of Al-Muttalib ibn Rabee‘ah that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Charity is not appropriate for Muhammad nor for the household of Muhammad, since it is the dirt of the people.”

Commenting on that, Ash-Shawkaani said: It was called dirt because it purifies people’s wealth and souls. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase.} [Quran 9:103]

It is narrated in both Saheehs on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that once Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali took one of the dates assigned to charity and put it in his mouth, thereupon the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him: “Kakh! Kakh! Throw it! Do you not know that we (the Prophet and his family) never eat (the objects of) charity?”

Much wisdom, according to scholars, lies behind the prohibition of charity to Muhammad and his family, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, including:

The honor of Prophethood and the high station of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, above all the creation. So, Allaah The Almighty Forbade charity to him and his family, out of safeguarding his station lest anyone inferior to him should rise above him with an object of charity or so.

Allaah The Almighty Said to His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, (what means):

Had Allaah The Almighty Made the objects of charity lawful for him and his family, the polytheists would have almost criticized him. So, Allaah Closed the gate of creticizing him from this side, by prohibiting the objects of charity to him and his family. This is the meaning referred to by Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar and Ash-Shawkaani .

There may be further wisdom that we do not know of. The point is that Allaah The Almighty Forbade charity to His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his family only for a great wisdom He Willed, in which there is benefit for His religion and revelation.

Allaah Knows best.