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Give zakah to sister

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As-Salam-Alaikum,

I have a specific situation with one of my real sisters. She is married. Her husband works and earns well. They have no problems as far their basic needs of food, clothing etc. are concerned. But they have some problems in meeting some of the other requirements such as basic household goods etc. She complains of not having enough money with her to meet these needs.

 

I need to know whether I can give Zaka`h to her. I want to give her some zaka`h, which she want to utilise to buy a sewing machine. She would use it as a source of earning for herself. I would appreciate if you could guide me in the light of Quran-o-hadith in this regard.

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Give zakah to sister

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60:

60 Alms (zakah) are for the poor, and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds), for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth), for those in bondage and in debt, in the Cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

 

Allah Subhanah has prescribed that ‘zakah’ should be paid to any of the above eight listed categories only:

  1. To the poor
  2. To the needy
  3. To those who are employed to administer the zakah funds
  4. To those whose hearts have recently been reconciled to the Truth of Islam (new-muslims)
  5. For those in bondage
  6. For those in debt
  7. In the Cause of Allah
  8. To the way-farer or traveler

 

Allah Subhanah has Commanded and Guided the believers that ‘Zakah’ must be distributed to any of the above eight categories only; for all other categories, one may help them through voluntary and supererogatory charity or ‘sadaqah’ but not through ‘Zakah’ funds.

 

The only people one is prohibited in Shariah to give ‘zakah’ to, even if they fall amongst the above listed eight eligible categories are those individuals whose financial upkeep is ones obligatory responsibility and duty in Shariah: like one’s parents, one’s wife and one’s children.

 

It is absolutely permissible in Shariah for one to spend of one’s ‘zakah’ dues on one’s sister. If one finds that one’s own sister (or relative) is needy, then such a relative has the biggest right that ‘zakah’ dues be spent on them.

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Charity for the poor is rewarded as one good deed; but in the case of a relative it is considered as two: [one reward for helping] blood ties, and [the other reward for] the charity [itself]."

Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and at-Tirmidhi.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 


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