I have adult, mature brothers who are employed, but the salaries they receive do not cover the requirements of their lives. Allah has blessed me with His bounty, and I give them half of my zakah or more, and I distribute the rest among the poor and the needy.
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The questioner : I have adult, mature brothers who are employed, but the salaries they receive do not cover the requirements of their lives. Allah has blessed me with His bounty, and I give them half of my zakah or more, and I distribute the rest among the poor and the needy. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view regarding this action, and does it constitute injustice to the poor? Please answer us, may you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : If these brothers of yours have enough to sustain them, even if it is only the minimum for people like them, then it is not permissible for you to give them from your zakah, because in this case they are not in need of zakah. Zakah is only to be distributed to those who are entitled to it, such as the poor, the needy, those in debt, and others whom Allah the Exalted mentioned in Surat al-Tawbah in His saying:[At-Tawbah 9:60].
However, if they are in need and what they have is not sufficient for them, such that they might have to borrow to complete their needs or take out loans for what they require, then in this case, give them from the zakah. Giving them from the zakah is more preferable than giving to distant relatives, because your charity to close relatives is both charity and maintaining family ties.
The Shaykh : If these brothers of yours have enough to sustain them, even if it is only the minimum for people like them, then it is not permissible for you to give them from your zakah, because in this case they are not in need of zakah. Zakah is only to be distributed to those who are entitled to it, such as the poor, the needy, those in debt, and others whom Allah the Exalted mentioned in Surat al-Tawbah in His saying:
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
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَاِبْنِ السَّبِيلِHowever, if they are in need and what they have is not sufficient for them, such that they might have to borrow to complete their needs or take out loans for what they require, then in this case, give them from the zakah. Giving them from the zakah is more preferable than giving to distant relatives, because your charity to close relatives is both charity and maintaining family ties.