What is the ruling on giving zakah to relatives if they are not poor?
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The questioner : This question has actually been asked by the brothers many times, and it is about giving zakah to relatives when they are not poor. What is its ruling, O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you?
The Shaykh : Giving zakah to relatives when they are not poor is not valid. The one who gives it, knowing that they are not among those entitled to zakah, must pay its equivalent, because his liability has not been discharged by it. He can maintain ties with his relatives other than through zakah, for maintaining family ties is among the best of deeds. But for him to give them from his zakah while depriving the true people of zakah is a mistake. However, if the relatives are poor and entitled to zakah, and their maintenance is not obligatory upon him, then there is no blame on him in giving them from his zakah. In fact, giving them from his zakah is better, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding charity to a relative that it is charity and a tie of kinship.
Likewise, if his relatives do not need financial maintenance but have debts they cannot pay off, he may pay off their debts from his zakah, even if they are his closest relatives. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh Muhammad. We said if the relatives are poor, does this include brothers and sisters?
The Shaykh : It includes brothers and sisters, as long as they are poor and their maintenance is not obligatory upon him. He gives them for their maintenance. And if they are wealthy in terms of maintenance but are debtors who cannot pay off their debts, he may pay off their debts from his zakah, even if they are his father or his mother.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Giving zakah to relatives when they are not poor is not valid. The one who gives it, knowing that they are not among those entitled to zakah, must pay its equivalent, because his liability has not been discharged by it. He can maintain ties with his relatives other than through zakah, for maintaining family ties is among the best of deeds. But for him to give them from his zakah while depriving the true people of zakah is a mistake. However, if the relatives are poor and entitled to zakah, and their maintenance is not obligatory upon him, then there is no blame on him in giving them from his zakah. In fact, giving them from his zakah is better, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding charity to a relative that it is charity and a tie of kinship.
Likewise, if his relatives do not need financial maintenance but have debts they cannot pay off, he may pay off their debts from his zakah, even if they are his closest relatives. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh Muhammad. We said if the relatives are poor, does this include brothers and sisters?
The Shaykh : It includes brothers and sisters, as long as they are poor and their maintenance is not obligatory upon him. He gives them for their maintenance. And if they are wealthy in terms of maintenance but are debtors who cannot pay off their debts, he may pay off their debts from his zakah, even if they are his father or his mother.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.