When it comes to giving zakat, one common question Muslims ask is: “Can I give my zakat to my relatives?” The answer is: yes, but not to all relatives. There are some family members who are eligible and others who are not โ and the difference lies in who you’re already financially responsible for.
Letโs break it down.
Relatives You Can Give Zakat To
Giving zakat to a poor relative is actually more rewarding than giving it to a non-relative. The Prophet ๏ทบ said:
“The charity given to a relative is both charity and an act of maintaining family ties.”
(ุตูุฏูููุฉู ุฐูู ุงูุฑููุญูู ู ุนูููู ุฐูู ุฑูุญูู ููู ุตูุฏูููุฉู ููุตูููุฉู)
โ [Reported by Al-Tabarani in Al-Muโjam Al-Awsat, Hadith no. 39]
So who qualifies?
You can give zakat to relatives youโre not financially obligated to support, like:
- Uncles and aunts (both maternal and paternal sides)
- Siblings and their children
- Cousins
- Nieces and nephews
Why is this better? Because you get double the reward โ one for giving zakat, and another for strengthening family ties.
And there’s a bigger benefit too: giving to close relatives helps build love, trust, and support within families โ which ultimately strengthens the entire community.
Relatives You Cannot Give Zakat To
Islamic rulings are very clear that you cannot give zakat to those whose expenses you’re already obligated to cover โ even if theyโre poor. These include:
- Your parents and grandparents (because itโs your duty to support them)
- Your children and grandchildren
- Your wife (as her maintenance is your responsibility as a husband)
๐ซ What About the Husband?
There are two scholarly opinions here:
- Not Allowed โ This is the opinion of Abu Hanifa and the Hanbali school, who argue that since the husband supports the wife, giving zakat to him means it indirectly comes back to her.
- Allowed โ The view of Abu Yusuf, Muhammad (both students of Abu Hanifa), and the Shafiโi school, says it is permissible for a wife to give zakat to her husband or even her children. They base this on the Hadith:
“Your husband and your child are more deserving of your charity.”
(ุฒูููุฌููู ููููููุฏููู ุฃูุญูููู ู ููู ุชูุตูุฏููููุชู ุนูููููููู ู)
โ [Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 1462]
And since a woman is not obligated to financially support her husband or children, she can give them zakat.
Special Cases: What If Your Child Lives Separately?
Hereโs a tricky one.
Say your adult son lives separately and struggles to support his family. Can you give him zakat?
- If youโre wealthy, then no โ support him from your own money.
- If youโre middle-class or modest, yes, scholars like Ibn Uthaymeen allow it:
“If giving zakat drops a financial obligation from you, itโs not valid. But if it doesnโt, then itโs valid.”
โ [Ibn Uthaymeen, Al-Liqaโ Ash-Shahri, p. 16]
Who Qualifies for Zakat in General?
Outside family, the following conditions must be met for someone to be eligible for zakat:
1. They Must Be Muslim
Zakat is only for Muslims. The Prophet ๏ทบ said:
“Allah has made zakat obligatory, to be taken from the rich among them and given to their poor.”
ููุคูุฎูุฐู ู ููู ุฃูุบูููููุงุฆูููู ู ููููุฑูุฏูู ุนูููู ููููุฑูุงุฆูููู ู
โ [Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 1395]
2. They Canโt Earn a Living
If someone is strong and able to earn a living but chooses not to โ they donโt qualify.
“Charity is not lawful for a rich person, or one who is strong and able.”
ููุง ุชูุญูููู ุงูุตููุฏูููุฉู ููุบููููููุ ููููุง ููุฐูู ู ูุฑููุฉู ุณูููููู
โ [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 652]
3. They Must Not Be Your Dependent
If you’re already covering someoneโs needs, like your parents or spouse, you can’t give them zakat. The purpose of zakat is to help the needy, not just to shift financial responsibility.
๐ A Gentle Reminder: Support with Knowledge, Too
Zakat is more than charity โ itโs a way to purify your wealth, strengthen your relationships, and uplift those in need. And just like we learn where to give our zakat, itโs important to also grow in understanding the Qurโan, which guides every step we take.
If youโd like to deepen your knowledge of Islam, or want your family to learn to read and understand the Qurโan โ we invite you to try our online one-on-one Quran classes. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve, our certified teachers are here to help, from the comfort of your home.
๐ Start your Quran journey today โ one verse at a time.