Paying Zakah to one's sister

Q: I work in Saudi Arabia as does my wife. We have money in excess of our needs and need to pay Zakah (obligatory charity) on it. I have brothers who work on a small piece of farmland in Egypt. They have children and their income hardly covers their food, drink, and clothing needs, etc. One of them has to support nine children besides himself and his wife, another supports seven children besides himself and his wife. I also have another brother who died leaving behind some children. Some of the children have graduated from the university and married, others are still studying at the university. Their mother has become a widow and has not remarried after my brother's death and lives with the children.The question now is: Is it permissible for me and my wife to give them Zakah money? Also, my father-in-law works in a government office in Egypt and his income hardly covers his daily needs. He has two sons and a daughter, who are at different educational stages. One of them is studying in a secondary school in Yemen and this costs a lot of money that his father cannot afford. My second question is: Is it permissible for me and my wife to give my father-in-law our Zakah money?


A: It is permissible for you to give your brothers and your father-in-law what suffices them from your Zakah if their income is not enough.As for your wife, it is not permissible for her to give her Zakah to her father. (Part No. 10; Page No. 60) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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