A wealthy man has unemployed brothers; is it permissible for him to give them from his zakah?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: A wealthy man has unemployed brothers, and he gives them from his zakah. Is that permissible for him?

Answer:
Yes, they are more deserving of his zakah if they are relatives and in need. The zakah for them carries two rewards: the reward of charity and the reward of maintaining family ties. Yes. However, it is not permissible to give zakah to a relative in the case of a father giving to his son, or a son giving to his father. This is prohibited for those in the direct line of descent.
He pays his zakah to one of them because he is obligated to provide for him. He does not use the zakah as a shield for his wealth. He is obligated to provide for his father if the father is in need, and he does not say, "Giving him the zakah is sufficient." Likewise, the reverse applies: if his son is in need, he is obligated to provide for him from his own wealth, and he does not use the zakah as a shield for his wealth. Yes.