Fatwa ID: 03280

Answered by: Alimah Sabrina Saidova​

Question

My question is in regards to giving zakat to a blood sister who is single (husband has left her) and lives with her children. Sister is disabled and not able to work and is also suffering from sickness. Lives in a council house with her two children. Both children work. I am not sure how much the children support her financially.

My questions are, can I as a sister give her zakat? Also, can she also take sadaqa?

Jazakallahu Khairun

May Allah reward you.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Charity given to a poor person is a charity, but charity given to a relative is two things, charity and upholding the ties of kinship.” ^[1]

With regards to the recipients of zakah, it is better for one to give their zakah to the brothers and sisters, thereafter their (brothers’ and sisters’) children, thereafter paternal uncles and aunts, then to their children, then to their maternal uncles and aunts, then to their children, thereafter to other family members, till the end of the list. ^[2]

Therefore it will be permissible for a sister to give her zakah to her blood sister as long she is not sahib nisab (possessor of enough wealth upon which zakah is obligatory) and does not own such a wealth, in excess of basic necessity, equivalent to the value of nisab, that would make her ineligible from receiving zakah.

Saqadah is only prohibited upon the family of Banu Hashim which includes the families of ‘Ali, ‘Abbaas, Ja’far, Aqeel, Harith son of Abdul Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with them all).^[3]

Only Allah knows best

Answered by Alimah Sabrina Saidova

Checked and approved Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham