Giving Zakat to One’s Parents and Children
Parents, however far up they go (i.e., grandfather, great-grandfather, etc.), and children, however far down they go (i.e., son, grandson, grandson’s son, etc.), are not entitled to obligatory Zakat, because the maintenance (nafaqah) of all of them is obligatory upon the person, if he has the means to provide it.
(Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allah have mercy on him)) He reported a consensus (ijma’) on this.
[al-Ijma’ li Ibn al-Mundhir: 118, p. 51; al-Mughni: 98/4]
The author of Bahr al-Zakhkhar also reported a consensus on this.
[As in Nayl al-Awtar: 141/3]
(Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both)) There is no harm in giving Zakat to relatives who are not part of your household and dependants.
[Ibn Abi Shaybah: 10531]
(Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him)) He also holds this view.
[Fatawa Ibn Baz (translated): 117/1]
Zakat also cannot be given to children for another reason: in reality, the wealth of a child is also the wealth of the father. That is, giving Zakat to a child is like giving Zakat to oneself.
➊ There is a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ: أنت ومالك لأبيك “You and your wealth belong to your father.”
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 1855, 1856; Kitab al-Tijarat: Bab ma lil-rajul min mal waladihi; Irwa’ al-Ghalil: 838; Ibn Majah: 2291, 2292]
➋ In another narration, these words occur: إن أولادكم من كسبكم “Your children are certainly from your earnings.”
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 1854 also; Ibn Majah: 2290; Abu Dawud: 3528; Tirmidhi: 1358]
In a narration, it is reported that Yazid (may Allah be pleased with him) unknowingly gave charity to his son Ma’n (may Allah be pleased with him), and then they both came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ disputing, and he ﷺ said: لك ما نويت يا يزيد ولك ما أخذت يا معن “O Yazid! You will receive the reward for what you intended, and O Ma’n! What you have taken is yours.”
[Bukhari: 1422; Kitab al-Zakat: Bab idha tasaddaqa ala ibnihi wa huwa la yashur; Ahmad: 470/3]
Imam al-Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him) said regarding this hadith that it concerns voluntary charity.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 142/3]
(Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him)) Giving Zakat wealth to parents and children is permissible only when they are poor and this person is unable to maintain them.
[Ikhtiyarat Ibn Taymiyyah: pp. 61-62]
