❖ The Ruling on Giving Zakat to a Married Son or Daughter ❖
By: Fadhilatul Baḥith Nauman Khaliq ḥafiẓahullah
❖ Question:
Can Zakat be given to a married son or daughter?
❖ General Principle
The general ruling in Islamic jurisprudence is that:
➤ A person cannot give Zakat to their
① Uṣūl (ascendants), such as parents or grandparents
② Furūʿ (descendants), such as children or grandchildren
That is, parents cannot give Zakat to their children, and children cannot give it to their parents.
❖ Exceptions: When Zakat May Be Given
However, in certain exceptional circumstances, it is permissible to give Zakat to one’s children, including married sons or daughters. These include:
✔ Extreme financial hardship
✔ Burden of debt
❖ Fatwa of Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymeen رحمه الله
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymeen was asked:
“Can a man give Zakat to his children?”
He responded:
“This matter requires detail. If a father gives Zakat to his children with the intent of escaping the obligation of their daily maintenance (nafaqah), then this is not permissible.
However, if the Zakat is meant to pay off their debt, it is allowed.”
Example:
If a son caused an accident and is liable for 10,000 Riyals in damages, the father may pay this amount from his Zakat.
📚 Majmūʿ Fatāwā Ibn ʿUthaymeen: 18/508, 18/415
❖ Giving Zakat to a Married Daughter in Need
If a married daughter is in poverty or financial difficulty, her father may give her Zakat, especially if:
✔ Her husband is unemployed
✔ He has abandoned her
✔ He has passed away
❖ Evidence from Sahih al-Bukhari
A narration in Sahih al-Bukhari states:
A man named Yazīd placed Sadaqah (charity) in the mosque intending to give it to a deserving person. His own son Maʿn took the charity unknowingly. Yazīd said:
وَاللّٰهِ مَا إِيَّاكَ أَرَدْتُ
“By Allah, I did not intend it for you.”
Upon hearing this, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“لَكَ مَا نَوَيْتَ يَا يَزِيدُ، وَلَكَ مَا أَخَذْتَ يَا مَعْنُ“
“Yazīd! You will receive reward for what you intended, and Maʿn! What you took is lawful for you.”
📚 Sahih al-Bukhari: 1422
Though this narration mentions a son, scholars state that the same ruling applies to a daughter, especially if she is in need.
📚 Fatwa: Ḥāfiẓ Thanaullah Madani, vol. 3, Kitāb al-Ṣawm, p. 325
✅ Conclusion
Giving Zakat to a married son or daughter is:
✔ Not allowed if it is to fulfill your obligation of nafaqah (daily maintenance)
✔ Permissible if they are in debt or in genuine financial hardship
✔ More lenient in the case of a married daughter, particularly if she has no financial support
