Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan
Question: My parents have run out of money and currently do not have any source of income. They receive welfare in the form of food stamps and medicaid.
(1) Would my parents be eligible for zakat?
(2) My wife works and has her own income. Is it permissible for her to give her zakat to my parents? Would this be considered disrespectful? She would give me the money and I would deposit it into their account without mentioning it is zakat money.
(3) Also, is there a limit to how much can be given to one person in zakat? (i.e. the amount given would bring them over the nisab amount).
Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,
I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.
(1) It would seem that your parents meet the criteria for receiving zakat, which is that one owns less than the nisab (aside from basic personal needs).
Nisab is based on the market value of approximately 87.5 g of gold, which today is $4955.73. [taken from http://www.e-nisab.com/]
(2) Yes she may give zakat to your parents. It could be called a gift so that it’s not offensive. Of course, the intention of zakat must be there when she pays it [or when she gives it to you to pay on her behalf].
(3) It is disliked to give a recipient an amount high enough that, after the completion of another lunar year (i.e., after paying all the expenses of that upcoming year), they are no longer eligible recipients. Considering the expenses of your parents and their financial state, this would not seem to be a concern.
[Shurunbulali, Maraqi l-Falah]
And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani