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:

Asslamalikum Brother!

Hope you will have a good Ramadan .I have a little confusion about some matter of Zakat ,can you please help me for this?

1-    Can we give Zakat to our blood relative ? Espcially those who are able to maitain their life expect the accessories of life which we all believe now a days important .

2-      I always give Zakat Allamdulliah from my pocket money but this year for some reason my husband stop giving me pocket money .He gave Zakat from my Haq Mehar as he thought that Zakat can only give by the person who will have to pay .My question to him is that I am not earrning as I am taking care of Kids (which is very mean to me) .Also if you will pay my all Mehar in Zakat then what will you do when it will be finished .He said that then I have to sell the Gold and will pay by it .I have no objection by giving any money ,gold in the path of Allah espcially when it is Farz .But my question is that how a non earrning house wife can pay Zakat when she isnt working or having any single penny in pocket Also Do I have to sell my gold next year for pay my Zakat or my husband should pay as he is good earrning man .

Thank you ,Jazakallah Khair!

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Answer:

Zakah issues

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.

Q-1: Can we give Zakat to our blood relative ? Espcially those who are able to maitain their life expect the accessories of life which we all believe now a days important .

It is not permissible for one to distribute ‘zakah’ dues to those blood-relatives whose financial obligations and upkeep is their responsibility in Shariah….for example one cannot give from one zakah dues to one’s parents, one’s wives, one’s children, etc.

But if the blood-relative is not amongst those whose financial upkeep is one’s responsibility like ones adult brothers and sisters, one’s aunts and uncles, one’s cousins, etc….then such blood-relatives, if they are needy or are not able to meet their expenses, have the absolute first right that zakah be distributed to them.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that those who have the biggest right that ‘zakah’ or ‘sadaqah’ should be spent on them are the near relatives; and one who spends of their ‘zakah’ or ‘sadaqah’ dues on their relatives will have a double reward from their Lord! One reward for fulfilling their ‘zakah’ obligations, and another reward for helping their relatives.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1939 Narrated by Sulayman ibn Amir

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Charity given to a poor man is just charity, but when given to a relative it serves a double purpose, being both charity and a connecting link."

Your Question: But my question is that how a non earrning house wife can pay Zakat when she isnt working or having any single penny in pocket

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 3.8

Who is Obliged to Pay Zakah

Zakah must be paid by every Muslim who has a nisab (wealth in excess of approximately US$1,000.00) , which is the minimum of one's holdings liable to zakah. The nisab is conditioned by the following:

1. Zakah should be paid on any amount of money remaining after meeting the expenses for such necessities as food, clothes, housing, vehicles and craft machines.

2. A complete year of Islamic calendar should pass, starting from the very day of the nisab's possession, without any decrease during the year. In case of its decrease (being less than nisab), the year count (hawl;) starts from the day of the nisab completion.

Commenting on the issue, Imam an-Nawawi said: "In our view and the views of Malik, Ahmad, and the majority of scholars, the amount of property liable for payment of zakah, such as gold, silver, or cattle, is tied to the completion of nisab through the turn of a whole year. If the nisab decreases in any time of the year, [the counting of] the year discontinues. Later, if the nisab is completed, the year count is resumed from the time of its completion."

Beloved Sister, if the total worth or value of your own personal assets is more than the minimum ‘nisaab’ of approximately US$1,000.00, then you are liable to pay zakah on your wealth, regardless of whether you are earning any money or not.

The ‘mehr’ which you received in your marriage is your own personal wealth; thus you can pay your annual zakah from your ‘mehr’ amount for the wealth (or jewelry) that belongs to you alone.

Your Question: Also Do I have to sell my gold next year for pay my Zakat or my husband should pay as he is good earrning man .

For the jewelry or gold that belongs to you, you alone are liable and responsible to fulfill its annual zakah obligations. If you do not possess the cash to pay the annual zakah of the jewelry or gold or other assets which belong to you personally, then indeed you would be required to sell a part of your assets and fulfill the obligatory annual zakah dues.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 1558 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As

A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and she was accompanied by her daughter who wore two heavy gold bangles in her hands. He (saws) said to her: ‘Do you pay zakat on them?’ She said: ‘No.’ He (saws) then said: ‘Are you pleased that Allah may put two bangles of Fire on your hands?’ Thereupon she took them off and placed them before the Prophet (saws) saying: ‘They are for Allah and His Messenger (saws) (to distribute in zakah)’

Dear and beloved sister, if the gold or the jewelry belong to you, then you alone are responsible for the fulfillment of its annual zakah. But if your husband, of his own will, takes the responsibility for paying the zakah on the gold or jewelry or assets which belong to you….there is absolutely no harm and is absolutely acceptable in Shariah. But if your husband refuses to pay the zakah dues on your gold or assets, then you alone will be liable and responsible to fulfill its annual zakah.

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