Is it permissible for a husband to give Zakat al-Fitr to his brother who is able to earn a living and has an income, but is about to get married? And is a person's poverty assessed merely by their need for money? And is it permissible to give Zakat to the husband's sister who is studying, for the purpose of buying books? And what is the ruling on one who gives Zakat to those who are not entitled to it?
The definition of the poor (faqir) and the needy (miskin) who are eligible for has been clarified in a previous . Anyone who does not fit this description is not eligible for zakat. If a husband pays zakat to someone who is not eligible, the wife should advise him, explaining that his obligation is not discharged by such an act. If the wife does so, her own responsibility is cleared. If the zakat paid was Zakat al-Fitr, the husband must re-pay it to those who are eligible. If he refuses, it is recommended for the wife to pay it herself to avoid disagreement, especially since some madhhabs (like the Hanafis) hold that women are obligated to pay it, and the Shafi'is explicitly stated that it is recommended for a well-off woman to pay it if her husband is in financial difficulty or refuses to pay it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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