FatwaFederal TerritoriesZakat
AL-KAFI #826 : HUKUM MEMBERI ZAKAT KEPADA ANAK SAUDARA
Is it permissible to give income zakat to a nephew or niece who is studying at a public university and needs financial help?
Short answer
It is permissible to give zakat to a nephew, niece or other needy family member, provided they are not under the giver's financial dependence.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Zakat
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
It is permissible to give zakat to a nephew, niece or other needy family member, provided they are not under the giver's financial dependence. Children and wives cannot receive zakat from the father or husband who supports them. Students seeking knowledge fall under the fisabilillah category, and helping relatives is more virtuous because it counts as both zakat and maintaining kinship ties. The ruling also stresses that zakat should be paid to the appointed amil, where a portion can be claimed for personal distribution.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Dalam isu ini, kami berpandangan bahawa harus dan dibolehkan untuk memberikan zakat kepada anak saudara atau ahli keluarga yang memerlukan.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #826 : HUKUM MEMBERI ZAKAT KEPADA ANAK SAUDARA”, 3 October 2018. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/2632-al-kafi-826-hukum-memberi-zakat-kepada-anak-saudara. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-giving-zakat-to-nephew-or-niece/