Is it permissible to pay zakah to one's sister to prepare her for marriage?
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Question : May Allah bless you. The questioner, your brother in Allah, S.M.A., says to me: My sister is engaged, so should I pay my zakah toward her wedding preparations? I am the one responsible for the dowry, as my father has passed away and left nothing for her preparation. Should I pay part of the amount needed for the dowry from my zakah? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer : It is not permissible for you to give your zakah toward preparing your sister for marriage, because her preparation is to be paid for from her mahr (bridal gift), so she is wealthy enough with that to be exempt from your zakah. And zakah, as is known to the reader of the Qur'an who understands its meaning,[At-Tawbah 9:60] [is] a wise, all-knowing, all-wise [ruling]. However, there is no blame on you if she has no money to lend her until she receives her mahr from her husband. Yes.
Answer : It is not permissible for you to give your zakah toward preparing your sister for marriage, because her preparation is to be paid for from her mahr (bridal gift), so she is wealthy enough with that to be exempt from your zakah. And zakah, as is known to the reader of the Qur'an who understands its meaning,
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 - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 926- هل يجوز دفع الزكاة لأخته لتجهزيها للزواج؟/سؤال على الهاتف 📞 /ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.