I am writing this email because I have a very important question that I need your guidance with. I am currently living in Mexico and I married a girl in Mexico who converted to Islam (Alhamdulillah) before I married her she had a son who is now 11 years. My question is regarding that son of ours, here in Mexico my financial position is very weak and it is very hard for us to take care of the finances. My mother in Pakistan and my brother take out zakah every year and my mother was thinking that she can send that money of the zakah to my wife’s son so that my son can use that money on his expenses which will help me to take care of other stuff of the house. We talked to one of our relative and they told us that zakah is only entitled for a child who is 13 or above but what I do not understand is how can this be Islam is a religion who teaches us to help each other then how can that be that Islam lets a 13 year old kid have tummy full of food and a kid of 11 be hungry?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
(Fatwa: 1081/838/H=9/1434)
Your mother cannot give her zakah money to you. However, she may give it to the son of your wife. And your brother may give his zakah money to you provided both of you (you and your wife’s son) are eligible to receive zakah. However, if the son of your wife is minor then it is not lawful to spend money or other things owned by him whether it is zakah money on other family members. Yes, if he is grownup then he may spend the money on family after he takes it in his complete possession. However, if both of you are not eligible to receive zakah then it is not lawful for you to receive zakah from anyone.
Allah knows Best!
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband