Giving one's zakaat to one's brother

Q: My question has two part which are as follows:

1. Can we give our zakaat money to our brother who is not living with me nor with family, he is living alone and by his own living cost?

2. Our father and mother passed away last year. We seven brothers have contributed money for (Mom/Dad) their Tadfeen and Takfeen and I have paid 600 USD on behalf of my brother (lending) who is needy, so this year my zakaat money is 470 USD and can I count and cut this zakaat money from the 600 USD which I have paid on his behalf?

A:

1. If he is eligible for zakaat, you can give him your zakaat.

2. If you voluntarily paid the money on his behalf, then later on you cannot deduct it from your zakaat. However if you paid the money on his behalf as a loan that has to be repaid to you, then the procedure for discharging the zakaat is that  you should give him the zakaat amount with the intention of discharging your zakaat and thereafter ask him to give you back the money as payment for the loan. In this way your zakaat will be discharged and his loan will be paid. If you do not physically give him your zakaat money but merely right off the loan and deduct it from your zakaat, your zakaat will not be discharged.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)