Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Can you please tell me if I can give my zakat to two handicapped sisters of mine living with my old father in Morrocco. They are about 40 years of age and not married, moreover, it is my brother who has to provide for them all and his own wife because my father is now too old and weak (walakin elhamdoulilah). Can you please help me?
Wa‘alaykum Assalam wa Rahmatullah,
You can give your zakat to your sisters. In fact, you would have several separate rewards for this: (1) the reward of giving zakat; (2) the reward of taking care of your immediate relatives; and (3) the reward of assisting those in need. This would make such a zakat payment–when made sincerely for the sake of Allah–truly great in reward.
The giver cannot materially benefit from giving their zakat. As such, one cannot give zakat to one’s parents, children, or spouse, because benefits between these people are shared. [Ibn Abidin and Haskafi, Radd al-Muhtar `ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar 2.2-4; Ibn al-Humam and Marghinani, Fath al-Qadir Sharh al-Hidaya ]
Please see the following links:
Paying Zakat to One’s Wife
Zakat: Article, Calculation, Salafis, Relatives, and more
Can we pay zakat to a newly converted Muslim even if he or she is not ”miskeen” or poor?
Can zakat be given to a mosque?
Can zakat be given to one’s needy brother or sister
Parents paying zakat
You may also find the following links to be of benefit:
Zakat
What is the definition of zakat?
When is Zakat Due?
Zakat: giving to poor, what is it due on,
and when?
Various Zakat Questions
If My Dad paid Zakat On My Behalf
Wassalam