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:

Can Zakat be given to married brothers and sisters? Also, can Zakat be given for home upgradation of brothers, sisters or relatives? Additionally, can Zakat be given to non-Muslims?

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Answer:

Kith kin zakah

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 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:

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 ‘Zakaah’ funds may be distributed to any of the above absolutely vast eight categories only; for all other categories, one may help them through voluntary and supererogatory charity or sadaqa but not through Zakah funds.

Your Question: Can Zakat be given to married brothers and sisters? Also, can Zakat be given for home upgradation of brothers, sisters or relatives?

It is not permissible in Shariah for one to give or spend from ‘zakah’ dues on those who are directly under one’s responsibility (ie. parents, wife, children, etc.).

Brothers, sisters, near or far relatives, etc. do not fall under the category of those who are under one’s wards or responsibility….thus if one finds one amongst one’s own kith and kith poor or needy, because of their bond of kinship, these relatives have the biggest right that ‘zakah’ dues are 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.

If one finds that one amongst their own blood relatives or kith or kin are poor and need funds to upgrade their accommodation, there is absolutely no harm in spending on them from one’s ‘zakah’ dues in Shariah.

Your Question: Additionally, can Zakat be given to non-Muslims? 

The scholars and jurists in Islam are absolutely unanimous in their opinion that the annual ‘zakah’ and the ‘zakat-ul-fitr’ (or fitra at the end of Ramadan) is only collected from the rich amongst the Muslims, and is to be distributed amongst the poor Muslims.

‘Zakah’ and ‘Fitra’ is collected only from the Muslims and distributed amongst the poor Muslims only. Thus one cannot give ‘zakah’ or ‘fitra’ to disbelievers; but one may indeed help their poor and needy disbelieving brethren from supererogatory charity or ‘sadaqaat’.

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