Is it permissible to give zakah to one who abandons prayer?
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The third question of Fatwa No. ( 7850 )
Q3: I have a full brother who is a Muslim and does not pray, but he contributes to charitable works for the benefit of Islam, fasts in Ramadan, and affirms the two testimonies of faith without denying the obligation of prayer. Whenever I advise him to pray, he says, "I heard you, I will pray," but then he does not pray as he said. This is his state until Allah afflicted him with a severe chronic illness that has kept him at home until now. He has become poor, waiting for what is in people's hands before he, his wife, and his children eat. The question is: Is it permissible for me or for anyone else to give zakah to the aforementioned brother due to kinship, his extreme poverty, and his illness?
A3: It is not permissible for you to give him from the zakah, but you may be generous to him and help him with other means from what is spent on or used to treat himself, hoping that his heart may soften and he may be guided to act according to the law of Allah, and preserve the pillars of Islam and its rituals. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q3: I have a full brother who is a Muslim and does not pray, but he contributes to charitable works for the benefit of Islam, fasts in Ramadan, and affirms the two testimonies of faith without denying the obligation of prayer. Whenever I advise him to pray, he says, "I heard you, I will pray," but then he does not pray as he said. This is his state until Allah afflicted him with a severe chronic illness that has kept him at home until now. He has become poor, waiting for what is in people's hands before he, his wife, and his children eat. The question is: Is it permissible for me or for anyone else to give zakah to the aforementioned brother due to kinship, his extreme poverty, and his illness?
A3: It is not permissible for you to give him from the zakah, but you may be generous to him and help him with other means from what is spent on or used to treat himself, hoping that his heart may soften and he may be guided to act according to the law of Allah, and preserve the pillars of Islam and its rituals. 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.