Can zakaat be given to son in law and syeds?

Answered by 

Shaykh Ebrahim Desai

1.      Please let me know if zakat can be paid to step sons if they are not sahibe nisaab.

2.      One Mufti in Pakistan gave fatwa that zakat can be paid to syeds if they are not sahibe nisab on the plea that during the period of Nabi salallāhu῾alayhi wasallam and sahaba there were special arrangements to help syeds who are in need from Baitul Mal. But currently no such arrangement exists hence in the light of this one can pay zakat to syeds also who are not sahib nisab. Please clarify. 

Thanks for your prompt response in advance.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

1.      You may give zakāt to your step sons if they are not Sahib Nisaab.[1]

2.      Syeds are the descendents of Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam from the progeny of Ali and Fatimah radhiyallāhu ῾anhumā. Syeds also fall within the extended family of Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam known as Banū Hāshim. The descendents of the Banu Hashim have a lineage of high pedigree and nobility. Hashim was the great grandfather of Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam. The son of Hashim was Abdul Mutallib who was also the grandfather of Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam.  

From amongst the progeny of Abdul Mutallib the descendents of the following cannot accept zakāt;

a) ῾Abbās radhiyallāhu ῾an (the uncle of Nabisalallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam)

b) Hārith(the uncle of Nabisalallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam)

c) Ali radhiyallāhu ῾an (the cousin of Nabisalallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam)

d) ῾Aqeel radhiyallāhu ῾an (the cousin of Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam)

e) Ja῾far radhiyallāhu ῾an (the cousin of Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam)

Zakāt is considered to be the filth of one’s wealth. An individual offers zakāt in order to purify the rest of his wealth. It is not befitting for the family of Nabisalallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam to accept this wealth. Nabisalallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam had mentioned that Allah Ta῾ālā has prohibited the filth and dirt found in peoples’ wealth (zakaat) for the Banū Hāshim.

As Muslims we should exert ourselves in ensuring that the family of Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam is never in need of zakāt. Our Imān dictates that we give preference to the family of Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam over our own. If a Sayid family is ever in need then we should make arrangements with lillah funds to try and relieve their situation. As a last resort if there is no other option an individual could offer sadaqat to the Sayid family.[2]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Ali bin Cassim

Student Darul Iftaa

Los angeles, CA (USA)

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net


[1]الجامع الصغير وشرحه النافع الكبير – (1 / 122)

وَيُعْطِي الرجل الزَّكَاة كل فَقير إِلَّا امْرَأَته وَولده وَولد الابْن والابنة ووالده ووالدته وَلَا يُعْطي مكَاتبه وَلَا مدبره وَلَا أم وَلَده وَلَا عبدا قد أعتقبعضه وَلَا تُعْطِي الْمَرْأَة زَوجهَا

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) – (2 / 339)

(هُوَ فَقِيرٌ، وَهُوَ مَنْ لَهُ أَدْنَى شَيْءٍ) أَيْ دُونَ نِصَابٍ أَوْ قَدْرُ نِصَابٍ غَيْرِ نَامٍ مُسْتَغْرِقٍ فِي الْحَاجَةِ.

المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني – (2 / 280)

قال الله تعالى: {إنما الصدقات للفقراء} (التوبة: 60) (138أ1) . والآية جامعة محل الصدقات من جملة ذلك الفقراء والمساكين

محمودية 9/517

رحيمية 7/181

[2]الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) – (2 / 350)

(وَ) لَا إلَى (بَنِي هَاشِمٍ)

المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني – (2 / 284)

ولا يجوز أن يعطى من الزكاة فقراء بني هاشم

درر الحكام شرح غرر الأحكام – (1 / 191)

(وَبَنِي هَاشِمٍ) وَهُمْ آلُ عَلِيٍّ وَعَبَّاسٍ وَجَعْفَرٍ وَعَقِيلٍ وَالْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ لِقَوْلِهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – «يَا بَنِي هَاشِمٍ إنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ غُسَالَةَ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ وَأَوْسَاخَهُمْ» (وَمَوَالِيهِمْ) أَيْ مُعْتَقِي بَنِي هَاشِمٍ لِمَا تَقَرَّرَ أَنَّ مَوْلَى الْقَوْمِ مِنْهُمْ

محمودية 9/551

كفاية المفتي 2/271

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This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

Tags: cousin, filth, Sahaba, Zakaat

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