Recipients of Zakaat

Q:

1. Could zakaat be given to non-Muslims?

2. Could zakaat be given to Muslim and non-muslim pensioners?

3. Could zakaat be given to family members?

Q: Is it permissible to give zakat to a brother/ sister, in the following scenarios?

1. He lives in UK with wife and kids, he owns almost everything, yet has outstanding mortgage (with interest), can zakaat be given to him so he may
discharge that mortgage? Can zakaat also be given to him for other expenses whilst his mortgage still exists?

2. He does not have a house, is single, no job, has a car, receives benefits inside UK, owns a small piece of land overseas where he will eventually build
a house, and lives in his unmarried sister's house, he also has savings of £12000 in a bank, can zakat be given to him?

3. She lives overseas, is married with children, all over 18 years of age, the husband and 2 sons do work, but earn just enough to live comfortably,
they own their house, and have almost everything they need for example washing machine, tv, cooker etc. however they do not have savings etc. So
they are not obliged to give zakat themselves, can zakat be given to them? If yes, can zakat be given to them up until the point they themselves get in to
a position where zakat becomes payable by them?

4. Does the husband have to pay zakat for his wife's jewellery, where is claims she is the owner of it?  Is the wife not obliged to pay it herself?

Q: Me and my brother take care of my uncle's family and their monthly needs (grocery rent etc). My question is that as it is the month of Ramadaan , I need to pay zakaat so can I use to zakaat money I owe this year to maintain their daily needs for the next month. I am concerned because I manage their expenses every month from my own money, so is it fine to use zakaat money this time?

Second question: My mother has some 10 grams of gold and my father passed away. Do I need to consider the gold as my belonging while calculating my zakaat?

Q: If a lady is divorced with two kids, living on her own, working but earns minimum to pay rent /water/lights/groceries petrol etc. She has her own car but sells cars now with her brother and earns profits from there, not always a set amount but +- R1 000/R1 500 a car. Some months 3 cars and some months no cars. Can she receive zakaat?

Q: My Brother in Law (husband of My sister) has Died. My Sister has 3 Children. As a brother I am helping my sister more and more in financial matters. Also she is receiving some money from the company where my brother in law had worked. But some times this money is not enough. I tried to give my Zakat to my sister but she refused to accept it and said I will never accept zakat or Sadqa. In this situation can I give zakat to my sister without telling her or if she asked can I hide or tell a lie that I am giving her zakat.

Q: Is it permissible to use zakat to purchase appliances (kettle or iron) for a needy person? The person has asked for the appliances, not cash.

Q: I am currently doing volunteer work at a Muslim children’s orphanage near my area. I have found that many of the children leaving the orphanage after grade 12 are having  difficulties finding funds for studies and accommodation. These youths are either placed at a Muslim youth home/ to live with a family willing to provide accommodation for them/ with their own family if possible and for some (as no placement are found) may go into a non-Islamic home (which is very problematic!). Some of these children are provided with some funds from the orphanage but this is reported to also be problematic as fees are not paid on time, they struggle to get finances for accommodation, stationary etc. My aim is to open a zakaat fund and use the money to pay fees for stationary/ varsity fees/ transport  as these youths (who I am very close to even after they leave the orphanage) are struggling to get these funds from the organisation as the organisation is only able to support children till matric. Thus my aim is to open a fund to pay for these youths. Can I go ahead and do this? Are these youths zakaatable? Will I be able to open a zakaat fund collecting my own zakaat and of family members that are willing to assist with their zakaat and pay for studies/ accommodation/ stationary/ transports for these Muslim youths? I will use the zakaat for each of the grade 12’s leaving the orphanage to secure their studies etc? Please advise? Alternatively please provide me with guidance on what can be done?

Q: Recently a brother was discussing the issue of 'Having a permanent organisation to distribute sadaqa and zakaat'. He termed this Haraam, Batil and
bidah. He produced the following articles with a link which I've produced at the bottom. I would be grateful if you can elaborate on this issue in light
of the Qu'ran and Hadith. 

Q: A brother has a bond on his house. Can he be given zakaat to settle his bond? He possesses the nisaab.

Q: A woman wants to discharge her zakaah to a qualified recipient in another city. The recipient instructs a third person to collect that zakaah on his
behalf, and deposit in an account. The third person collects the zakaah. Therafter the recipient instructs the third person to please not deposit the zakaah, and not to collect it! Due to a delay in the third person collecting it! The third person after receiving this information via text message
acknowledges! Still collects and deposits the money! Now the bank account which was not the recipients account was in overdraft! With the result the entire zakaah amount was used up and the recipient did not receive it. So who is liable to replace that zakaah?