Is it permissible to give zakat to a son in need or to his wife?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A wealthy father must spend on his poor son who is unable to earn a living. If the father is deceased or insolvent, then the wealthy mother must spend on him. It is not permissible to give him from because his maintenance is obligatory. However, if the son is in debt, it is permissible to give him from Zakat to pay off his debt. It is permissible to give Zakat to the poor wife of the son if her husband is unable to spend on her, because her maintenance is not obligatory upon the husband's father.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/62925
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 62925
- 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