What is the ruling on giving zakah to relatives?
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Question:
A sister from Libya sent a message, signing it at the end with: Your daughter, 'Azah Bun Khaylah. She asks and says: Is zakah permissible for relatives, such as a daughter, a sister, an uncle, and an aunt? My father gives from his zakah every year to his daughters, his brothers, and his sisters. I have heard someone say that zakah is not permissible for daughters because they will inherit from their father after his death. I know that my sisters are married, and some of them have husbands in a weak financial situation. Please provide us with a sufficient explanation on this matter. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
There is a distinction regarding relatives. If the relative is from the descendants, such as children, the sons of sons, the sons of daughters, and the daughters themselves, they are not given from the zakah. This is the position of the scholars. However, their father spends on them from his own wealth if they are poor. Likewise, fathers, grandfathers, and mothers are not given from the zakah.
As for the rest of the relatives, such as brothers, uncles, the sons of uncles, the sons of maternal uncles, the sons of maternal aunts, and their like, they are given the zakah if they are poor or in debt, having debts they are unable to pay. This is based on the saying of the Exalted: [Surah al-Tawbah: 60]. It becomes a charity and a maintenance of family ties, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 6:134.
As for fathers, grandfathers, mothers, and descendants; they are not among those entitled to zakah, and they are not given from the zakah. This is because they are one entity. The children are a part of him, and he is a part of his father and mother. Therefore, it is obligatory for him to spend on them from the core of his wealth, not from the zakah. Yes, if they are poor. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A sister from Libya sent a message, signing it at the end with: Your daughter, 'Azah Bun Khaylah. She asks and says: Is zakah permissible for relatives, such as a daughter, a sister, an uncle, and an aunt? My father gives from his zakah every year to his daughters, his brothers, and his sisters. I have heard someone say that zakah is not permissible for daughters because they will inherit from their father after his death. I know that my sisters are married, and some of them have husbands in a weak financial situation. Please provide us with a sufficient explanation on this matter. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
There is a distinction regarding relatives. If the relative is from the descendants, such as children, the sons of sons, the sons of daughters, and the daughters themselves, they are not given from the zakah. This is the position of the scholars. However, their father spends on them from his own wealth if they are poor. Likewise, fathers, grandfathers, and mothers are not given from the zakah.
As for the rest of the relatives, such as brothers, uncles, the sons of uncles, the sons of maternal uncles, the sons of maternal aunts, and their like, they are given the zakah if they are poor or in debt, having debts they are unable to pay. This is based on the saying of the Exalted:
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 السَّبِيلِCharity to a relative is a charity and a maintenance of family ties
الصدقة على ذي الرحم صدقة وصلةAs for fathers, grandfathers, mothers, and descendants; they are not among those entitled to zakah, and they are not given from the zakah. This is because they are one entity. The children are a part of him, and he is a part of his father and mother. Therefore, it is obligatory for him to spend on them from the core of his wealth, not from the zakah. Yes, if they are poor. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.