Recipients of Zakaat

Q: My aunt was widowed when my cousins were very young. We were told that they can accept zakaat. Years later I realised that my aunt did not have cash but did have all her gold jewellery. The house my uncle had was sold and the money invested to pay their rent. My aunty worked and earned and my grandparents and family helped where they could.

Is our zakaat that we had given discharged, as it seems that the daughters did have gold, saved money and are entitled to about R67 000 each. As family we were told that they had nothing.

If the zakaat is not discharged how would one go about discharging it?

Q:

1. I wish to give zakat to a poor lady but someone (who claims to know her ancestors) say that they are 'sayyads', the family doesn't claim to be sayyads and are not known as sayyads in society, can I give zakat to them?

2. Also, can I give zakat to someone who has a television at home?

Q:

1. It has been 2 years since my cousin has passed away. She has left 3 children under the age of 8. However, my mother would like to financially support then on a monthly bases. It that permissible?

2. In addition, can zakat money be given to the orphans kids as monthly payments set aside for them?

Q: I’m a 19 year old student currently studying at Univeristy. My father has just recently got a job but the income barely covers our home expenses and my mother is unemployed. My mother does however have money invested where she receives some every month and this covers the rest of our house expenses. My parents cannot afford to pay my univeristy fees with this money. I have been offered a bursary but they give Zakaat money. I would like to find out if it is permissible for me to accept this money.

Q: Can I use zakat money to dig a well for the poor people who don't have water nearby?

Q: Can I use zakat money to dig a well for poor people?

Q: A woman who is a widow with no children has more than the nisaab amount, which is invested but the income from it is less than her monthly expenses. Can this woman be assisted with zakaat to cover her monthly shortfall in her expenses.

Q: Can I give zakaat to my mother-in-law who is a widow and her two sons are not able to fulfil her needs?

Q: My husband is in heavy debts. I have a good amount of gold given to me in my marriage as a gift by my parents, in-laws and relatives. The zakat on gold amounts to thousands of rupees. I am a housewife so whatever my husband gives me for my personal expenses is the only income I have. First year of my marriage I sold a few items of my gold and paid off the zakat to nearest relatives who were in need. Now I heard about this following hadith: Al-Bukhaari (1462) and Muslim (1000) from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him), that when the Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) commanded the women to give in charity, Zaynab the wife of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood came to him and said: “O Prophet of Allaah, today you told us to give in charity. I have some jewellery and I want to give it in charity, but Ibn Mas’ood claims that he and his child are more deserving of my charity.” The Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Ibn Mas’ood has spoken the truth. Your husband and child are more deserving of your charity.” So I ask you if you could clear my doubts regarding it accordingly. Can I give the amount my husband gave to me for my peesonal expenses as zakat back to my husband so he could pay off his debts? 

Q: We buy milk for our students who can receive Zakaat with Zakaat funds and distribute it to them. Sometimes the milk is surplus. We buy this milk and put the money into the Zakaat funds. Is this permissible?