Recipients of Zakaat

Assisting one's sister with zakaat

Q: My sister has separated from her husband. She and her three kids are living with my brother and his family (i.e. wife and two little daughters) in one bedroom appartment in London. Her husband has not yet given her divorce but also does not pay for anything for the kids either. She herself is not working at the moment. Can I pay my zakaat to her or it will only be considered as sadaqah?

Accepting zakaat to pay off one's debs

Q: At the moment I am in alot of debt. My buinesses closed during covid and I have tried to restart them but at the moment I am in alot of debt, on the businesses as well as on my house which is bonded. If I do sell my house, it won't add up to the amount of the debt but if I can pay off my debt then insha Allah I can be able to pay zakaat going forwards. I don't have an income for now. Is it possible to receive zakaat to pay off my debts?

Giving zakaat to one's niece on her wedding

Q: If anybody wants to give zakaat to their sister's daughter on her marriage. They have a house and their way of life is normal. But in the age of today, a marriage arrangements is a burden on them.

In this matter, can we give zakaat to them without telling them that this is zakat so they can buy some things. In this case some other people also help them, somebody gave a bedset, someone gave other things. What does Islam say about this.