Is it permissible for a woman to pay the zakat on her wealth to her son's wife in the Maliki school of thought?
It is permissible to give zakat to one's son's wife to pay off a debt she owes. However, it is not permissible to give her zakat simply because she is poor or indigent, because her husband is obligated to support her, or the husband's father is obligated to support his son and those he maintains. An exception to this is if her husband is poor and his mother cannot support him; in this case, it is permissible to give her zakat. The Maliki school permits this if the son is an adult, of sound mind, capable of earning, and not dependent on his father. The Hanafis, however, permit it absolutely.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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