Mattson: Status-Based Definitions of Need in Early Islamic Zakat and Maintenance Laws

Early Islamic scholars placed an absolute cap on the # of dinars for zakat
abu ubyad says differently
schools
- maliki - houses vary, as long as there is no surplus, zakat can be given
- hanbali - same as above
- hanafi - strict cap, cannot exceed an absolute amount of wealth
- al-shafi’i - argues for an adjustable cost of living concept
ma’ruf - what is known
- shafi applies this to zakat
poses the question whether zakat based charity systems, based off of social birth, actually serve to maintain the status quo