Is it permissible to spend zakah on the support of an orphan?
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Question : The questioner says: I am a guardian for an orphan, so is it permissible for me to pay the support amount from my zakah?
Answer : No, it is not permissible to give zakah for the support of an orphan, because orphanhood is not a category for which zakah is paid. Read the verse on charity:[At-Tawbah 9:60] and remember the orphans.
Orphans are not a category for spending zakah, unless they are poor. Then they are given because they are poor, not because they are orphans. For this reason, it is not permissible for a person to pay his zakah for the support of an orphan, unless he knows that the orphan is among those entitled to zakah, that he is poor. Yes, there is no doubt that supporting an orphan contains good and reward, even if he is rich. And being kind to orphans also contains reward, even if they are rich. But we do not say that orphanhood is one of the categories of zakah; rather, it is poverty. Then know, my brother, that money is expensive, so do not spend it on the support of an orphan except for a person you trust to deliver it to the orphan. This is a point a person should be careful about. Do not spend your money in any act of nearness to Allah unless you are confident in the trustworthiness of the one who requested this aid. For example, we have lived through this and seen many people say that they have such and such a project, or such and such a project. But when you look into it, you find that the matter is not true. The same applies to the support of orphans and others.
I do not want you to hold back your money. Spend your money in everything that brings you closer to Allah, for you have nothing of your wealth except what you have given. But be cautious, because in our time, trust is not good. Do not spend your money except in a place where you are confident, or certain, that the money will be spent there. This is by being reassured about the one who collects these funds, that he is truthful, and that the funds will be spent. And beware of two things: the first is the 'Id sacrifice. You cannot offer the 'Id sacrifice to someone to slaughter it in a distant land. Sacrifice in your own homes, because the purpose is not to get the meat. The most important thing is drawing near to Allah through the slaughter.
Answer : No, it is not permissible to give zakah for the support of an orphan, because orphanhood is not a category for which zakah is paid. Read the verse on charity:
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
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِOrphans are not a category for spending zakah, unless they are poor. Then they are given because they are poor, not because they are orphans. For this reason, it is not permissible for a person to pay his zakah for the support of an orphan, unless he knows that the orphan is among those entitled to zakah, that he is poor. Yes, there is no doubt that supporting an orphan contains good and reward, even if he is rich. And being kind to orphans also contains reward, even if they are rich. But we do not say that orphanhood is one of the categories of zakah; rather, it is poverty. Then know, my brother, that money is expensive, so do not spend it on the support of an orphan except for a person you trust to deliver it to the orphan. This is a point a person should be careful about. Do not spend your money in any act of nearness to Allah unless you are confident in the trustworthiness of the one who requested this aid. For example, we have lived through this and seen many people say that they have such and such a project, or such and such a project. But when you look into it, you find that the matter is not true. The same applies to the support of orphans and others.
I do not want you to hold back your money. Spend your money in everything that brings you closer to Allah, for you have nothing of your wealth except what you have given. But be cautious, because in our time, trust is not good. Do not spend your money except in a place where you are confident, or certain, that the money will be spent there. This is by being reassured about the one who collects these funds, that he is truthful, and that the funds will be spent. And beware of two things: the first is the 'Id sacrifice. You cannot offer the 'Id sacrifice to someone to slaughter it in a distant land. Sacrifice in your own homes, because the purpose is not to get the meat. The most important thing is drawing near to Allah through the slaughter.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، لقاء[139 من 145] هل يجوز صرف الزكاة في كفالة اليتيم؟ الشيخ ابن عثيمين - مشروع كبار العلماء — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.