Shar‘i Principles Regarding Giving Zakat to One’s Daughter
❖ Question:
Is it permissible, according to Islamic law, to give zakat to one’s daughter?
❖ Answer by:
Fadhilat al-‘Alim ‘Umar Athari ḥafiẓahullāh
The Qur’an clearly outlines the rightful recipients of zakat. Allah ﷻ says:
“اِنَّمَا الصَّدَقٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَالۡمَسٰكِيۡنِ وَالۡعٰمِلِيۡنَ عَلَيۡهَا وَالۡمُؤَلَّـفَةِ قُلُوۡبُهُمۡ وَفِى الرِّقَابِ وَالۡغٰرِمِيۡنَ وَفِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ وَابۡنِ السَّبِيۡلِؕ فَرِيۡضَةً مِّنَ اللّٰهِؕ وَاللّٰهُ عَلِيۡمٌ حَكِيۡمٌ“
(Surat al-Tawbah: 60)
“Zakat (charitable offerings) are only for the poor and the needy, and those employed to collect it, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free captives, and for those in debt, and in the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer — an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
❖ Principles Regarding Giving Zakat to One’s Daughter
① Married Daughter:
✔ If the daughter is married and her husband is her financial maintainer, then the father cannot give her zakat, because the responsibility of her expenses lies with her husband.
② Unmarried or Returned Daughter:
✔ If the daughter is unmarried, or has returned to her father due to khulaʿ, divorce, or the death of her husband, then the father still cannot give her zakat, since he is her financial maintainer in such circumstances.
❖ Condition for Giving Zakat to Relatives:
✔ Zakat can be given to those relatives whose financial responsibility does not lie upon the zakat-giver.
✔ For example, a husband cannot give zakat to his wife, but a wife can give zakat to her indebted or needy husband, as confirmed by the narration of Zaynab رضي الله عنها, the wife of ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه, who sought permission from the Prophet ﷺ and he allowed it.
❖ Summary:
❀ A father may give zakat to his daughter only if:
➤ He is not her financial maintainer, and
➤ The daughter is eligible (i.e., poor/needy) to receive zakat.
❀ If the daughter’s expenses are the father’s responsibility,
then giving zakat to her is not permissible.
❀ Zakat may be given to relatives, provided that:
➤ The zakat-giver is not their financial provider, and
➤ They are deserving of zakat under Shari‘ah.
