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We are two brothers and three sisters, both our parents are expired.

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:

Dear Burhan,

Assalamalekum,


Keep it up your good work, may ALLAH give you HIS best rewards to you and to everybody involved.

 

My question is regrding Zakah, we are two brothers and three sisters, both our parents are expired. Two sisters and we two brother are married and only the youngest sister is balance for marriage. I am working in the gulf and sending some amount back home where my brother and unmarried sister is living in the rented house which is in my name. My brother is not well established and cannot meet all the expenses. I have my some belongings in that house and we are also staying in the same house during our vacation every year. My question is, the money I am sending every month can be considered as Zakah and the marriage expenses for the remaining sister can be taken from my zakah fund.


Please reply at the earliest.


Regards and JazakAllah Khair. 

 

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Answer:

 

Marry sister from ones 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 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.

 

Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, near or far relatives, etc. do not fall under the category of those who are under one’s immediate or direct 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.

 

It is not only permissible but highly meritorious for one to spend of one’s ‘zakah’ dues on one’s near and far relatives, if indeed the state of one’s relatives happens to be poor or needy, or falls under one of the other above listed eight categories of eligibility.

 

Your Question: ….My question is, the money I am sending every month can be considered as Zakah and the marriage expenses for the remaining sister can be taken from my zakah fund.
One of the absolutely obligatory conditions of fulfilling one’s zakah obligations in Shariah is that one should make intention (in one’s heart) BEFORE one pays the zakah dues. Indeed if you are helping your brother/sister every month, or wish to spend some of your funds for the marriage of your sister, you are eligible to spend from your zakah dues….but you must make intention that the funds you intend to spend on them are from your zakah dues, BEFORE you make the payments.

 

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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