Is it permissible to pay zakat to cover a sister's university installments if the father is financially capable but does not spend on the family?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is permissible to give a student of Islamic knowledge from according to their needs if they are unable to combine seeking knowledge with earning a livelihood. Jurists have explicitly stated this. Some scholars have also gone to the extent of permitting giving Zakat to a student of worldly knowledge if they are seeking beneficial knowledge for the benefit of their religion or their worldly life. Therefore, if your sister is seeking Islamic or beneficial worldly knowledge and is unable to combine studying with earning a livelihood, it is permissible to give her Zakat to cover her tuition fees.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/120245
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 120245
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy