Those Entitled to Zakah
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Fatwa No. ( 17378 )
Q: I have a relative who is not of my direct lineage, nor am I of his. He is retired and his salary is 13,000 (thirteen thousand) riyals. He lives in a rented residence and spends on a family consisting of 16 individuals, all of whom are his sons, his wife, and his mother. The number may become more than that, especially at the end of the week, when his married daughters gather. During the summer holidays, the total number reaches 65 people. He has no income other than his retirement salary, most of which goes toward rent, electricity, telephone, water, and the maid, in addition to the expenses for the children and sons.
and the necessary and desirable expenses. He does not own any real estate or other wealth. It is known that this man is one of those attested to for his goodness and righteousness. He has a piece of land, which is all he owns in his life, and he wants to build on it, but he does not want to burden himself with debts. He tried to build on installments but found that it would cost him a lot. The end of my question, O honorable Shaykh: Is it permissible for me to give my relative sufficient money from the zakah so that he can complete his construction, live in it with his sons, spend his salary on his children and family, and be relieved of the worry of rent? We know that the near relative is better than the distant one.
A : Allah the Exalted has distinguished the categories of zakah recipients in His saying:[At-Tawbah 9:60] What appears from your description of your relative’s situation is that he is well-off, and his salary is sufficient for him and those he supports if he manages it well and spends from it without extravagance or waste. However, if you support the aforementioned relative through gifts, presents, or a benevolent loan with the intention of helping him, you will be rewarded, if Allah wills.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I have a relative who is not of my direct lineage, nor am I of his. He is retired and his salary is 13,000 (thirteen thousand) riyals. He lives in a rented residence and spends on a family consisting of 16 individuals, all of whom are his sons, his wife, and his mother. The number may become more than that, especially at the end of the week, when his married daughters gather. During the summer holidays, the total number reaches 65 people. He has no income other than his retirement salary, most of which goes toward rent, electricity, telephone, water, and the maid, in addition to the expenses for the children and sons.
and the necessary and desirable expenses. He does not own any real estate or other wealth. It is known that this man is one of those attested to for his goodness and righteousness. He has a piece of land, which is all he owns in his life, and he wants to build on it, but he does not want to burden himself with debts. He tried to build on installments but found that it would cost him a lot. The end of my question, O honorable Shaykh: Is it permissible for me to give my relative sufficient money from the zakah so that he can complete his construction, live in it with his sons, spend his salary on his children and family, and be relieved of the worry of rent? We know that the near relative is better than the distant one.
A : Allah the Exalted has distinguished the categories of zakah recipients in His saying:
Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.