The Ruling on Giving Servants from Zakah

Question:
Is it permissible to give our zakah to domestic workers? And if it is permissible to give it to them, do we give it to the workers in our own homes, or to workers who work for others? We know that they are weak, have small children, and their salaries are very low.

Answer:
If a person knows that they are poor, and that they are Muslims, and that they are Muslim domestic workers, there is nothing wrong with giving them from the zakah, on the condition that this is not done in order to have them serve him; because their livelihood is small, so he might use the zakah to entice them to serve him. However, if he gives them the zakah in order to entice them, he should turn to other poor people to give them instead. The best for him is to give it to other poor people, not the female servants or the male servants, but other poor people who are further removed from the suspicion. This is because the poor domestic workers might lie, saying, "We have poor people and we have children," when they are lying. There might also be doubt about their Islam if they do not have insight; there might be doubt about their Islam as well. So let him give it to the poor who are known for their Islam and goodness, with certainty. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.