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It is Permissible to Give or Take Zakah to Cover Marriage Expenses

Answered as per Shafi'i Fiqh by Darul Iftaa Jordan
Is it permissible to give the Zakah of my wealth to my sister`s son who can`t afford marriage expenses, knowing that his salary is fat, but he has no savings?

Answer:

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

It is permissible to give part of one` Zakah to the person who can`t afford marriage expenses. According to our scholars (Shafie), "The poor is one who has neither money nor a source of income to provide for essential needs: food, drink, residence and other." They also stated that "other essential needs" include marriage for the one who fears hardship and falling into adultery. This is, of course, in case he didn`t get married. Rather, it is stated in the Shafie book Moghni al-Mohtaaj, Vol.4:P.175: "If what he earns suffices for food and clothing, but he needs to get married, then he is permitted to take from the Zakah to meet the latter need."

The late Grand Mufti Dr. Nooh al-Qhodaah issued Fatwa No.(503) in which he permitted giving Zakah to persons who want to get married.

However, giving Zakah to someone who earns a fat salary could encourage him to spend extravagantly while, in principle, Zakah should be given to the poor who is careful in spending. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

This answer was collected from the official government Iftaa Department of Jordan.

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