Is spending on a divorced sister and her two children, whom their father does not support, considered sadaqah or zakat?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The poor sister's maintenance is obligatory upon her able brother according to the Hanbalis and Hanafis, unlike the Malikis and Shafi'is. As for the children, their maintenance is upon their able father. If he is unable or refuses, it is permissible to give them due to their poverty. It is not permissible to count what is spent on the sister and children as Zakat unless it is given into their possession with the intention of Zakat. What is spent without being given into their possession is not considered Zakat but rather charity.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/68514
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 68514
- 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