Is it permissible to pay Zakat to help a sister cover the costs of a surgical operation, knowing that she is a widow and has a fixed income from her deceased husband?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is permissible to give to a sister under two conditions: that her maintenance is not obligatory upon you (it becomes obligatory if you are wealthy and an heir to her), and that she does not possess the cost of the surgical operation. This is because a sick person who does not have the means for treatment is considered poor and eligible to receive Zakat. Giving her Zakat in such a case is better, as it is both charity () and an act of maintaining kinship ties (silat ar-rahim).
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/170209
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 170209
- 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