Is it permissible to give zakat al-mal to needy nephews (sister's sons) who smoke and support their families, by purchasing essential groceries for them?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is permissible to give to your poor nephews (sister's sons), and it is better due to the : "Charity given to a poor person is one charity, but charity given to a relative is two: charity and upholding the ties of kinship."
Zakat should be paid in cash, not in goods. The fact that they smoke does not prevent you from giving it to them, unless you know for certain that they will use it to buy cigarettes, in which case it is forbidden to give them cash.
You can inform them that there is zakat for them and then, acting as their agent, purchase their necessities for them. This is a good solution.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/172204
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 172204
- 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