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 Salaam Alaikum,

I have posted a couple of times before and not got replies. Trying one more time.

I have an uncle who is not doing very well in business,but has a house and a car. He needs money but wont accept zakaah as he will be highly embarassed by it. Can i give him zakaah funds and not tell him?

I have an aunt who is divorced but has a house of a very high value which she could sell and move into a smaller house and live off the income off the balance amount? Can i give her zakaah funds?

We would like to really help them as we would have extra money from zakaah funds which needs to be disbursed and who better than people in the family?

Jazaak Allah !!

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Answer:

Giving zakah to relatives

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

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, uncles, aunts, 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/or need funds, there is absolutely no harm in spending on them from one’s ‘zakah’ dues in Shariah.

Your Question: …..Can i give him zakaah funds and not tell him?

The one who gives the ‘zakah’ is indeed required to make an intention in their hearts before they disburse their ‘zakah’ dues; but there is absolutely no requirement or obligation in Shariah upon the one who gives the ‘zakah’ to inform the receiver that the funds he/she is about to give them is from ‘zakah’.

If you intend to spend from your ‘zakah’ dues on your needy uncle, and you know that he would be embarrassed to accept your help if you told him that the funds are from your ‘zakah’ dues…..you are at absolute liberty to give him the funds from your ‘zakah’ dues without telling him the source of the funds.

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