What is the ruling on a mother giving her children from her zakah?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : What is the ruling on a mother giving her zakah to her children?
The Shaykh : If a mother gives her zakah to her children, and she has ample wealth that enables her to spend on her children, it is not permissible for her to give her children anything. It is obligatory for her to spend on them from her wealth. Or, if they have a father who provides for their needs, it is also not permissible for her to give her children from her zakah, because they are provided for by their father. However, if her wealth is small and insufficient to spend on them, and they have no wealth and no one who is obligated to spend on them, there is no harm in her giving to them.
Likewise, if she wants to give to them to pay off debts they have, there is no harm in her paying their debts from her zakah, because a mother is not obligated to pay off her son's debt, nor is a father obligated to do so. If he pays off his son's debt from his zakah, there is no harm, or if a woman pays off her son's debt from her zakah, there is no harm. Did you understand? Do you understand now? Do you understand?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : It appears you did not understand. That is, it is permissible on the condition that their financial maintenance is not obligatory upon her. If their financial maintenance is obligatory upon her, or if they have someone who spends on them, it is not permissible for her to give to them. Yes, that is correct.
The Shaykh : If a mother gives her zakah to her children, and she has ample wealth that enables her to spend on her children, it is not permissible for her to give her children anything. It is obligatory for her to spend on them from her wealth. Or, if they have a father who provides for their needs, it is also not permissible for her to give her children from her zakah, because they are provided for by their father. However, if her wealth is small and insufficient to spend on them, and they have no wealth and no one who is obligated to spend on them, there is no harm in her giving to them.
Likewise, if she wants to give to them to pay off debts they have, there is no harm in her paying their debts from her zakah, because a mother is not obligated to pay off her son's debt, nor is a father obligated to do so. If he pays off his son's debt from his zakah, there is no harm, or if a woman pays off her son's debt from her zakah, there is no harm. Did you understand? Do you understand now? Do you understand?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : It appears you did not understand. That is, it is permissible on the condition that their financial maintenance is not obligatory upon her. If their financial maintenance is obligatory upon her, or if they have someone who spends on them, it is not permissible for her to give to them. Yes, that is correct.