Giving Zakah to Relatives Such as Brothers and Their Sons
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Fatwa No. ( 20090 )
Q: I am a man who has a sum of money – praise be to Allah – in the form of paper currency, and I wish to pay the zakah of my wealth to my sisters who are married and independent with their husbands, or to my sister who is unmarried, or to my brother’s sons. I hope from Allah, and then from you, for clarification on this, and whether it is valid to give it to these people?
A : It is permissible to give zakah to relatives; such as brothers and their sons, if they are poor and in need, whether they are married or unmarried. In fact, they are more deserving and more entitled to it than others; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 658Sahih (Darussalam) Narrated by Imam Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Nasa'i, and this is the wording of al-Tirmidhi, who said: It is a good hadith. However, if the brothers are not in need, or if the sisters’ husbands are wealthy – then it is not permissible to give it to them; because they are not among those entitled to it; and because
the maintenance of the sisters is obligatory upon their husbands. As for if the sisters’ husbands are poor, then the zakah is given to them; because they are the ones responsible for their wives. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I am a man who has a sum of money – praise be to Allah – in the form of paper currency, and I wish to pay the zakah of my wealth to my sisters who are married and independent with their husbands, or to my sister who is unmarried, or to my brother’s sons. I hope from Allah, and then from you, for clarification on this, and whether it is valid to give it to these people?
A : It is permissible to give zakah to relatives; such as brothers and their sons, if they are poor and in need, whether they are married or unmarried. In fact, they are more deserving and more entitled to it than others; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Charity given to the needy is (counted as) charity, and if it is given to relatives it is (counted as) two: charity and nurturing (the ties of kinship).
الصدقة على المسكين صدقة وهي على ذي الرحم ثنتان: صدقة وصلةthe maintenance of the sisters is obligatory upon their husbands. As for if the sisters’ husbands are poor, then the zakah is given to them; because they are the ones responsible for their wives. And 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.