Is it permissible to give Zakat al-Mal to a 49-year-old brother who receives a pension of 700 Egyptian Pounds, has four children, pays 100 Pounds monthly for bills, lives in an owned apartment, and bought a plot of land for which he deducts 300 Pounds from his pension to cover its cost? And is he sinful for purchasing this land which is beyond his means?

There is no harm in giving zakat to a poor brother or a debtor unable to repay, provided that he is, in the eyes of Islamic law, eligible to receive zakat. However, if his need is due to his extravagance in smoking, such that if he saved the cost of cigarettes, he would no longer be poor, then it is not permissible to give him zakat. Similarly, if he is able to repay his debt through monthly installments, he should not be given zakat. Purchasing land in installments is not sinful and may be correct if there is a future benefit in it.