What are the limits of a person's disposal of his wealth during his lifetime to members of his family, relatives, or others?

The owner's disposition of his wealth revolves around obligatory, commendable, and permissible spending, without extravagance. Obligatory spending includes the wife and relatives whose maintenance is incumbent upon him (ascendants and descendants) for food, clothing, drink, and housing. This varies according to the financial capability of the spender and the country of residence.

As for commendable spending, it is for poor relatives whose maintenance is not obligatory, and its reward is greater than others because it is charity and maintaining ties of kinship. For relatives who are not poor, it is commendable to maintain ties with them through money or gifts. Parents are most deserving, then the closest of kin.

Regarding non-relatives, the expenditures for Zakat, expiations (kaffarat), and vows are given to their rightful recipients. Then comes the category of commendable charity, which is broad and includes those afflicted, the needy, orphans, neighbors, students of knowledge, and other good causes.

As for spending on permissible things, moderation is required, without extravagance or miserliness, as Allah Almighty says: {And those who, when they spend, do not squander nor stint, but are ever between the two [extremes] a just balance.}