Fatwa ID: 06404

 

Answered by: Alimah Zakiratul Hoque

 

Question:

 

 

Please specify whom we can and to whom we cannot give zakat.

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

Allah says in the Qur’an:

 

“Zakat is only for the poor and the needy, for those employed to administer it, for those whose hearts are attracted ˹to the faith˺, for ˹freeing˺ slaves, for those in debt, for Allah’s cause, and for ˹needy˺ travellers. ˹This is˺ an obligation from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (Qur’aan, 9:60) ⁽¹⁾

 

These are the categories to whom Zakat can be given.

 

The following cannot be recipients of Zakat:

• The rich: anyone who possesses the Zakat Nisaab ⁽²⁾
• One’s parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents (going up) (Al Muhit Al Burhani, Vol 3, Pg 212) ⁽³⁾
• One’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren (going down) (Al Muhit Al Burhani, Vol 3, Pg 212) ⁽⁴⁾
• One’s spouse (Al Muhit Al Burhani, Vol 3, Pg 212) ⁽⁵⁾
• One’s slave (Al Muhit Al Burhani, Vol 3, Pg 212) ⁽⁶⁾
• Masjid construction (Al Muhit Al Burhani, Vol 3, Pg 212) ⁽⁷⁾
• A member of Banu Hashim (Al Muhit Al Burhani, Vol 3, Pg 214) ⁽⁸⁾

 

If family members fall under the categories detailed in the Qur’anic Ayah, they can be given Zakat, with the exception of parents (grandparents, etc) or children (grandchildren, etc). When family members fall under these categories, it would be best to give Zakat money to them before anyone else (Fatawa Hindiyya, Vol 1, Pg 209). ⁽⁹⁾

 

Of course, there is more nuance to all of the above. If you require a more comprehensive response or are enquiring about a specific category, please get back in touch with the details.

 

 

⁽¹⁾

إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَـٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

 

 

⁽²⁾

و لا يجوز دفع الزكاة الي من يملك نصابا اي مال كان دنانير و دراهم او سوائم او عروضا للتجارة او لغير التجارة فاضلا عن حاجته في جميع السنة هكذا في الزاهدي

 

 

⁽³⁾

و لا يعطي من الزكاة والدا و ان علا

 

 

⁽⁴⁾

و لا ولدا و ان سفل

 

 

⁽⁵⁾

و لا يعطي زوجته

 

 

⁽⁶⁾

و لا يعطي عبده و مدبره و ام ولده

 

 

⁽⁷⁾

و لا يصرف في بناء المسجد و قنطرة

 

 

⁽⁸⁾

و لا يجوز ان يعطي من الزكاة فقراء بني هاشم و لا مواليهم

 

 

⁽⁹⁾

و الافضل في الزكاة و الفطر و النذور و الصرف أولا الي الإخوو الأخوات تم الي اولادهم ثم الي الاعمام و العمات ثم الي اولادهم ثم الي الاخوال و الخالات ثم الي اولادهم ثم الي ذوي الارحام ثم الي الجيران ثم الي اهل حرفته ثم الي اهل مصره او قريته كذا في السراج الوهاج

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Zakiratul Hoque

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham