What Is The Difference Between The Needy & The Poor?

Question: Who is the Miskin (needy) who is a recipient of Zakah and what is the difference between him and the Faqir (poor)?

Answer: The Miskin is the Faqir (poor person) who cannot find what completely suffices his needs, and the Faqir is in more severe need than he (the Miskin) is. Both of them are from the categories of people who are eligible to receive Zakah and who are mentioned in Allaah, the Most High’s Statement:

“Verily As Sadaqat (Az-Zakah) is only for the Fuqara’ (poor), the Masakin (needy) and those who are employed to collect it (the funds)..” [Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 60]

Whoever has an income that suffices him for food, drink, clothing and housing, whether that is from a donation, earnings, a job or anything similar to that, then he is not called Faqir (poor) or Miskin (needy). Therefore, it is not permissible to distribute Zakah to him.

Shaykh ‘Abdul Azeez bin Baz (rahimahullah)

Darussalam Fatawa Islamiyyah, Volume 3, Page 188-189