Is it permissible to pay Zakat al-Fitr or wealth Zakat to an adopted son?
If adoption is intended to ascribe lineage to the child, then this is forbidden and was nullified by Islam, based on the Almighty's saying: "Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah." However, if it is intended for upbringing and beneficence, then it is a good deed. In both cases, it is permissible to give zakat to the child if they fall under the categories for zakat recipients, even if the donor is already spending on them. Al-Shafi'i and Ibn Qudamah explicitly stated the permissibility of giving zakat to those whose maintenance is not obligatory for the giver, such as poor relatives and foundlings.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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