Islamic Ruling on Giving Zakat to Close Relatives
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
❀ General Principle:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
The general principle in this matter is:
✔ Close relatives whose financial maintenance (nafaqah) is obligatory upon the zakat-giver — it is not permissible to give them zakat.
Reason:
Because by giving them zakat, the zakat-giver would be relieving himself of a duty that is already obligatory upon him — namely, providing for their basic needs.
❖ Detailed Explanation:
➊ Relatives Whose Maintenance Is Not Obligatory:
Such as a brother, provided the zakat-giver has his own children.
➤ In this case, the brother does not inherit, and therefore the zakat-giver is not responsible for his maintenance.
➤ If the brother is eligible for zakat, it is permissible to give it to him.
➋ Relatives Who Are Financially Stable but in Debt:
If a close relative is not in need of basic support, but is under debt due to reasons unrelated to daily maintenance, then it is permissible to give them zakat to repay that debt.
✅ This applies even if the relative is a father, son, daughter, or mother.
Condition:
The debt must not be due to neglect of their basic financial needs, but rather due to an exceptional circumstance.
Example:
– If a son has had an accident and becomes liable to pay compensation (diya).
– He has no wealth to fulfill this obligation.
– In this case, the father can use zakat funds to pay on his behalf.
Why?
Because the liability arose not from general poverty, but from an unforeseen event.
❖ General Rule:
✅ Anyone who gives zakat to a close relative whose maintenance is not obligatory upon him, it is permissible for him to do so.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
