Fatwa ID: 09422
Answered by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Question:
Alaikum Alaikum,
My parents live in Canada, they don’t work and they are on benefits, but the money they get from the benefits doesn’t really cover everything, so my sisters send money to them regularly.
My zakah is due next month, I would like to know if I can give part of zakah to my parents.
Jzk Allah khair.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
It is not valid to give your Zakat to your parents.[1, 2] The reason is that children and parents typically share benefits from each other’s wealth and possessions. A child may benefit from the belongings of the parents, and the parents may benefit from the belongings of the child. Therefore, when Zakat is given to one’s parents, a complete and independent transfer of ownership does not occur, as the child may still indirectly benefit from the wealth that was discharged as Zakat.
You may, however, assist your parents by giving them gifts or voluntary charity. In addition, if your parents are poor, it is your Shar‘i (Islamic legal) responsibility to financially support and provide for them.[3, 4] One cannot fulfil the obligation of Zakat by giving it to individuals whom they are already Islamically required to maintain. May Allah Ta‘ala reward you for taking care of your elderly parents. Ameen.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
ولا يجوز دفع الزكاة إلى الوالدين والمولودين وإن علوا، وإن سفلوا (١)، وكذلك إلى زوجته وإن كانت فقيرة (٢)
Kitab Khizanat al-Muftin, Jami’ah al-Malik Khalid, 1441. p.940.
[2]
ولا يدفع المزكي زكائه إلى أبيه وجده وإن علا ولا إلى ولده وولد ولده وإن سفل) ؛ لأن منافع الأملاك بينهم متصلة: فلا يتحقق التمليك على الكمال
Al-Lubab Fi Sharh Al-Kitaab, Al-Maktaba Al-‘Ilmiyyah Beirut-Lebanon, 1392. Vol.1 p.155.
[3]
وعلى الولد كبيراً كان أو صغيراً، ذكراً كان أو أنثى: نفقة أبويه الفقيرين، صحيحين كانا أو زَمِنَيْن، مسلمين أو كافرين، لأن إنفاقَه على من يثبت بينه وبين جزئية بلا واسطة، كأنه إِنفاقٌ (٣) على نفسه، فيجب بخلاف غيره
Kitab Fatḥ Bāb al-ʿInāyah bi-Sharḥ al-Niqāyah, Dar Al-Arqam ibn Abi Al-Arqam, 1st ed., 1997. Vol.2 p.207.
[4]
ولا تجب النفقة مع اختلاف الدين إلا للزوجة والأبوين والأجداد والجدات والولد وولد الولد) لما مر أن نفقة الزوجة بمقابلة الاحتباس، وأما غيرها فلثبوت الجزئية، وجزء المرء في معنى نفسه، فكما لا تمتنع نفقة نفسه بكفر لا تمتنع نفقة جزئه
Al-Lubab Fi Sharh Al-Kitaab, Al-Maktaba Al-‘Ilmiyyah Beirut-Lebanon, 1392. Vol.3 p.105.