I have a brother who is eligible for receiving Zakah. Is it permissible for me to pay all of this year’s Zakah money to him?
Answer:
الجواب باسم ملهم الصواب
- It is permitted to give all the Zakah money to a single person.
- However, care should be taken that the amount given does not become equivalent to the Nisab (minimum amount required for Zakah to become obligatory).
- However, if the recipient of the Zakah money has a big family and, if the total of the amount is equally distributed amongst each family member, none of them will become an owner of the Nisab – there is nothing wrong in giving more than the Nisab amount to such an individual and his family.
- If a person has incurred a huge amount of debts, it is also permissible to give him more than the Nisab amount, in order to help him pay his debts.
Only Allah knows best.
Answered by:
Abdullah Fahim
Imam & Khateeb, Masjid Taqwa
Kyrwicks Lane, Birmingham
24th Ramadhan 1441 AH
احسن الفتاوى: ج 4، ص 302-303
قال في الدر المختار: (وكره إعطاء فقير نصابا) أو أكثر (إلا إذا كان) المدفوع إليه (مديونا أو) كان (صاحب عيال) بحيث (لو فرقه عليهم لا يخص كلا) أو لا يفضل بعده دينه (نصاب) فلا يكره. (راجع رد المحتار: ج 5، ص 118-119، دار الثقافة والتراث)