5818
3
28 / 04 / 2026
Paying Zakat for Siblings
I have a sister whose financial situation, along with her husband and children, is less than good in my opinion. They have a modest house to live in, and some time ago her husband borrowed a sum of money, and she sold her gold to buy a house in its skeleton form, hoping they would complete it and move in. The house is registered in her name and her husband’s name, with her owning one-third and him owning two-thirds. Now, after the exorbitant rise in prices in Syria, her husband is no longer able to complete the house, and their financial situation has worsened. Can Zakat be given to my sister even if she owns part of the house? If she is not eligible for Zakat, sometimes people appoint me to give her money during Ramadan without specifying whether it is Zakat or not. Is it permissible to give it to my sister, or should I ask whether it is Zakat or not?
Answer
I say, and with God's success: It is permissible to give zakat to brothers and sisters in general if they are poor. If your sister does not own an amount of (100) grams of gold beyond her essential needs, it is permissible to give zakat to her; because she is considered poor. You will have two rewards: the reward of zakat and the reward of maintaining family ties. It is also permissible for others to give zakat to your sister as well, and God knows best.
