Question # 61: Can we pay zakat for a deserving Muslim man’s daughter wedding?
bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,
Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
Dear questioner,
First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.
Shorter Answer: Spending on the ‘poor’ and the ‘needy’ are indeed from the allowable portals where zakah can be spent; thus it is absolutely permissible for one to spend from one’s zakah to help in the marriage costs of poor Muslims.
Long Answer: Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If there was a person who can earn enough for food, drink and shelter, but he needs to get married and he cannot afford to get married, is it permissible to give him zakah funds so that he can get married? The answer is yes, it is permissible to give him zakah funds so that he can get married and give a full mahr. If it is said: How come it is permissible to give zakah funds to a poor person so he can get married even if what is given to him is a large amount? We say: Because a person’s need for marriage is a real need, and in some cases it may be like his need for food and drink… (Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam)
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: There is an upright (i.e., religious) young man who wants to get married, and there is no doubt that he needs assistance to complete the matter of marriage. Is it permissible for me to give him from az-Zakah to help in the matter of his marriage? He replied: It is permissible to pay az-Zakah to this young man as a mean of helping him get married if he cannot afford it. And Allah is the Giver of success. (Fatawa Islamiyah)
Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.
Wassalaam
