Is it permissible to give Zakat to incarcerated criminals or their families, as well as for building a mosque in a town where immorality is widespread?
Zakat cannot be disbursed to other than the eight categories mentioned in the verse from Surat At-Tawbah, among which are building a mosque or for prisoners or their families, unless they are poor. Zakat is permissible for prisoners if they are obliged to pay blood money for accidental killing and the 'Aqilah (kinsmen liable for blood money) or the poor perpetrator are unable to pay it.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/56432