Recipients of Zakaat

Q: I live in Bahrain with my husband and children. My parents live in Pakistan. My father is retired, my youngest sister is divorced she lives with my parents. My other sister is married and lives with her family in Pakistan. My one & only brother lives with his wife in Australia. He was financially taking care of my parents as my parents live in a rental accommodation although they own an apartment which is on rent but the rent is not enough. Last year in August my brother lost his job as he committed a crime (fraud), he worked in a financial institution. He was found guilty & is in prison. They bought a house in Australia on mortgage, his wife works & most of her salary goes to pay mortgage payment (mortgage is for 30 years) she is left with very little amount to pay other expenses (she is expecting a baby in October Inshallah). She had no money to pay the lawyer's fee (the lawyer after knowing their financial condition told her to give her fee in instalments). I've been sending her lawyer's fee  (instalments) every month since March. My brother will be released next month in August but will have no income & it will be very difficult for him to get a job (they are Pakistani nationals) so they cant get any help from the government & his wife will be on paid maternity leave. We have also found out from his wife that he has a car loan & credit card loan to pay to the bank in Australia. My parents are already shattered as they are practising Muslims & never ever expected their only son to be like that. His wife tells us that he is a changed person now, feels very sorry for his actions/trouble he has caused his parents & is praying, fasting in prison Allah knows best. I work in a school & I send his wife some money from my salary. I have to give zakat which I can't give at one time (I usually give it every month but I was not as I was sending money to them). I want to help my brother/his wife but I'm not in a position to help them and give zakat at the same time, frankly I want to help my parents too but its impossible for me right now. Can you please guide me if I can give my zakat money to my brother every month or my parents? I'm very confused as I don't know how to give zakaat and help him at same time when I know they have no other help and I don't want to delay the zakat. 

Q: My sister is not a needy but can I give zakat to my sister?

Q: Can zakat-ul-maal be spent on musjid expenses, neighbours, people of other faiths, fi sabillillah when there are poor Muslims, orphans, reverts with no means to feed or pay for health expenses in the global Muslim ummah? Can zakaat funds be used to purchase a Lamborghini or a Honda for a Duke or Prince of London under the clause ' mending hearts, bringing hearts together or fi sabillillah'. I'm not Robin Hood but I think I can see right through the answer. I interpret Surat tawbah chapter 9 verse 60 in the sequence in which it was revealed, poor ones before others. But some people prefer to spend the money on their 'bethrons', emphasising on 'mending hearts' and others would like to spend it first on the travellers. I think there should be a separate intention for friends, neighbours, people of other faiths, travellers, musjid renovation, relieving debt and a separate fund for the poor, orphans, reverts, and zakaat workers basic needs. If the zakaat worker's salary exceeds the zakat ul maal, then the purpose of zakaat to the poor and the orphaned is defeated. I need the opinion  of our dear Mufti on this.

I hope and pray that I haven't offended anybody, these are hard times and funds need to be spent carefully to earn more good deeds, sawaab.
Clearly the needs of the poor and the orphaned and the ostracised reverts and the families of zakaat workers should not be overlooked in our intentions. May Allah forgive me if I'm wrong. May my brothers and sisters in The ummah and other faiths forgive me if I'm wrong.

Q: Is it permissible to give one's zakaat towards paying for the purchase of a funeral vehicle for needy muslim communities?

Q: Can Zakaat be given to non-muslims?

Q: What do the scholars say regarding the permissibility of giving zakat to non-profit Islamic satellite channels?

Q: I just want to clarify if a family member (father) is in debt, can a son pay off his debt using his zakah contribution?

Q: Many people say that in a place where many Muslims are not found, zakaat can be given to poor non-Muslims. Is this true? If its not true what should be done?

Q: I am a 32 year old married muslim male with 2 kids. I have been unemployed for 3 years and struggling to earn an income to match my living expenses (water/lights share, food, school fees etc). Also, I am in debt in the region of about R500 000 due to previous business debts. My Family and I are currently living with my parents and I have no possessions to my name (property,stock, car etc). My wife buys and sells goods as well to supplement whatever little income I am currently bringing in. Is it permissible for me to collect Zakaah to cover my living expenses and to repay my debts to Creditors?

Q: Can a mother pay off her son's debts with her zakah? She does not have enough money to pay his debts outright, because if she did that, then she would not be able to pay her zakah.