Ruling on Giving Zakat for Students and Marriage Expenses
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
What is the ruling on giving zakat to a student? Can it also be given to help someone get married?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
➊ Zakat can be given to a student who has dedicated himself to acquiring Islamic (Shar‘i) knowledge, even if he is capable of earning.
➋ This is because seeking Islamic knowledge is regarded as a form of jihād fī sabīlillāh, and Allah ﷻ included this category among the eligible recipients of zakat:
﴿إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ... وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللّٰهِ﴾
(Surah At-Tawbah: 60)
“Zakat is only for the poor, the needy... and in the path of Allah...”
➌ A student pursuing secular education with the intent of earning a livelihood is not eligible for zakat.
➤ To such a person, it will be said:
"You are working for the world and will earn from this. Therefore, zakat is not permissible for you."
➍ If a person is able to cover his basic needs like food and shelter, but lacks the means to get married, then he may be given zakat for marriage.
✔ He may be given enough zakat to fully cover the mahr (dowry) and other wedding expenses.
How can it be permissible to give zakat for marriage, which is not an essential need like food?
➤ The response is:
Sometimes marriage is just as essential as food and drink. Hence, the scholars have said:
✔ Whoever is responsible for another person’s maintenance (nafaqah) is also responsible for that person’s marriage expenses, if financially capable.
➤ A father is obligated to arrange for his son’s marriage if:
– The son needs to get married,
– and he lacks the means to do so,
– while the father has financial capacity.
Sadly, some fathers forget their own youth and respond:
"Earn your living with your own sweat, then get married."
This attitude is impermissible if the father has the ability to bear the costs.
If he refuses to support his son’s marriage despite financial capability, his son may hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment.
➎ If a man has multiple sons, and he spends on the marriage of the older ones during his lifetime:
✔ It is not permissible for him to make a wasiyyah (will) to give a portion of his wealth to his younger sons for their future marriages after his death.
✔ Instead, it is obligatory for him to spend on the marriages of the younger sons when they reach marriageable age, just as he did for the older sons.
Making a post-death will for one’s heirs is prohibited.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدْ أَعْطَى كُلَّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ، فَلَا وَصِيَّةَ لِوَارِثٍ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Waṣāyā, Ḥadīth: 2870;
Jāmi‘ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Waṣāyā, Ḥadīth: 2120)
“Indeed, Allah has already given everyone entitled to a right their due, so there is no wasiyyah (will) for an heir.”
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
❀ Question:
What is the ruling on giving zakat to a student? Can it also be given to help someone get married?
❀ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
❖ Zakat for a Student of Shar‘i Knowledge
➊ Zakat can be given to a student who has dedicated himself to acquiring Islamic (Shar‘i) knowledge, even if he is capable of earning.
➋ This is because seeking Islamic knowledge is regarded as a form of jihād fī sabīlillāh, and Allah ﷻ included this category among the eligible recipients of zakat:
﴿إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ... وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللّٰهِ﴾
(Surah At-Tawbah: 60)
“Zakat is only for the poor, the needy... and in the path of Allah...”
❖ Zakat for a Student of Worldly Education
➌ A student pursuing secular education with the intent of earning a livelihood is not eligible for zakat.
➤ To such a person, it will be said:
"You are working for the world and will earn from this. Therefore, zakat is not permissible for you."
❖ Zakat for Marriage Expenses
➍ If a person is able to cover his basic needs like food and shelter, but lacks the means to get married, then he may be given zakat for marriage.
✔ He may be given enough zakat to fully cover the mahr (dowry) and other wedding expenses.
❖ Addressing an Objection:
How can it be permissible to give zakat for marriage, which is not an essential need like food?➤ The response is:
Sometimes marriage is just as essential as food and drink. Hence, the scholars have said:
✔ Whoever is responsible for another person’s maintenance (nafaqah) is also responsible for that person’s marriage expenses, if financially capable.
❖ Example:
➤ A father is obligated to arrange for his son’s marriage if:
– The son needs to get married,
– and he lacks the means to do so,
– while the father has financial capacity.
Sadly, some fathers forget their own youth and respond:"Earn your living with your own sweat, then get married."
This attitude is impermissible if the father has the ability to bear the costs.
If he refuses to support his son’s marriage despite financial capability, his son may hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment.
❖ Making a Will (Wasiyyah) for Minor Sons’ Marriage
➎ If a man has multiple sons, and he spends on the marriage of the older ones during his lifetime:
✔ It is not permissible for him to make a wasiyyah (will) to give a portion of his wealth to his younger sons for their future marriages after his death.
✔ Instead, it is obligatory for him to spend on the marriages of the younger sons when they reach marriageable age, just as he did for the older sons.
Making a post-death will for one’s heirs is prohibited.❖ Evidence:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدْ أَعْطَى كُلَّ ذِي حَقٍّ حَقَّهُ، فَلَا وَصِيَّةَ لِوَارِثٍ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Waṣāyā, Ḥadīth: 2870;
Jāmi‘ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Waṣāyā, Ḥadīth: 2120)
“Indeed, Allah has already given everyone entitled to a right their due, so there is no wasiyyah (will) for an heir.”
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
