A man has a relative in Iraq who has been struck by poverty; is it permissible for him to send him money as zakah?
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The questioner : He says: Your Eminence, my maternal uncle... is asking for help, claiming that he is in need and in debt. Is it permissible for us to pay him from the zakah of our wealth?
The Shaykh : It appears that the people of Iraq are in great need today, except for those known to be wealthy. If you know that he was wealthy before, a person may refrain. But if you know nothing about him, I think that the people of Iraq today are among the poorest nations, according to what we have heard regarding the severity of the cost of living. One chicken, some people tell me, costs fifty riyals, and a loaf of bread costs two riyals. This is undoubtedly a severe cost of living. Therefore, there is no harm in sending him from the zakah if you do not know that he was wealthy before. If you know that he was wealthy before, he may have become poor due to the severity of the cost of living as well, meaning poverty has befallen him. But in such a case, do not send him from the zakah; send him from the perspective of maintaining family ties. Know that maintaining family ties contains much good and great reward. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has guaranteed that He will maintain the ties of those who maintain them, and cut the ties of those who cut them.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : If you know that he was wealthy before.
The questioner : He claims that he is in debt.
The Shaykh : I say my words are clear: if you do not know anything about him from before, send him from the zakah and do not worry. If you know that he is wealthy, this is a place for hesitation.
The questioner : He was wealthy before the war.
The Shaykh : Wealthy.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I mean, obvious wealth.
The questioner : His claim is after the war.
The Shaykh : Then send him from the perspective of maintaining family ties.
The questioner : From the perspective of maintaining family ties.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is better and clears the conscience.
The Shaykh : It appears that the people of Iraq are in great need today, except for those known to be wealthy. If you know that he was wealthy before, a person may refrain. But if you know nothing about him, I think that the people of Iraq today are among the poorest nations, according to what we have heard regarding the severity of the cost of living. One chicken, some people tell me, costs fifty riyals, and a loaf of bread costs two riyals. This is undoubtedly a severe cost of living. Therefore, there is no harm in sending him from the zakah if you do not know that he was wealthy before. If you know that he was wealthy before, he may have become poor due to the severity of the cost of living as well, meaning poverty has befallen him. But in such a case, do not send him from the zakah; send him from the perspective of maintaining family ties. Know that maintaining family ties contains much good and great reward. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has guaranteed that He will maintain the ties of those who maintain them, and cut the ties of those who cut them.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : If you know that he was wealthy before.
The questioner : He claims that he is in debt.
The Shaykh : I say my words are clear: if you do not know anything about him from before, send him from the zakah and do not worry. If you know that he is wealthy, this is a place for hesitation.
The questioner : He was wealthy before the war.
The Shaykh : Wealthy.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I mean, obvious wealth.
The questioner : His claim is after the war.
The Shaykh : Then send him from the perspective of maintaining family ties.
The questioner : From the perspective of maintaining family ties.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is better and clears the conscience.