Can zakat be given to one’s needy brother or sister

Walaikum assalam,

In the Hanafi school, it is both permitted and best to give zakat to one’s immediate family (besides one’s parents, children, and spouse) if they are needy, unless there are others with more obvious and urgent needs that will remain unmet.

Imam Abu Bakr al-Kasani ((Allah have mercy on him) said in his Bada’i` al-Sana’i`:

“It is permitted to give zakat to anyone besides one’s parents, and offspring from one’s relatives, such as one’s brothers and sisters and others. This is because shared benefit of mutual wealth is cut off between them [f: unlike one’s parents and offspring].” [Kasani, Bada’i` al-Sana’i`, 2.50]

Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya quotes Haddadi’s Siraj al-Wahhaj as stating:

“It is best in zakat, fitr, and vows, to direct one’s money first to one’s [needy and eligible] brothers and sisters, then to their offspring, then to… [other relatives in order of closeness]…” [al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, 1.190]

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Faraz Rabbani