Question
(#014)
Can I give my Zakaat to a poor child?
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
حامدا و مصليا و مسلما
Muhtaram
We have received your query with regards to giving ones Zakaat to a child, our response is as follows:
If a child is Baaligh1 (Mature) then it will be permissible to give him Zakaat, provided that the Baaligh child is an eligible candidate for Zakaat. The Baaligh child will only be an eligible recipient of Zakaat if he himself is a Muslim and he is not the owner of cash or/and superfluous goods (things that are over above the basic necessities of life) equivalent to or more than the value of Nisaab of Zakaat after deduction of the child’s debts and liabilities. In order for a non-Baaligh child to qualify for Zakaat the child will also need to be a Muslim and eligible to receive Zakaat.
Secondly, he must be a مراهق (Muraahiq) i.e. close to becoming Baaligh or at least a مميز (Mumayyiz) i.e. one who has reached the age of discretion or mental maturity whereby he is able to comprehend and understand money matters thereby being capable of accepting and assuming possession of Zakaat by himself.If the non-Baaligh child is not a مراهق (Muraahiq) or مميز (Mumayyiz) i.e. he has not reached the age of discretion or mental maturity in the context of what was mentioned above then the Muslim father or Muslim guardian (relative or non-relative, in the absence of father) of the child will need to take possession of the Zakaat funds on behalf of the child.
It is also conditional for the father of the non-Baaligh child to be poor. If the Father of the child is rich (i.e. he owns cash or/and superfluous goods (things that are over above the basic necessities of life) equivalent to, or more than the value of the present Nisaab of Zakaat after deduction of debts and liabilities) then the child would not qualify to be a worthy recipient of Zakaat and hence such a father will not be eligible to take possession of Zakaat on his child’s behalf. If the father of an immature child is not rich but the mother is, it will be permissible to give Zakaat to that child.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Muhammad Irshad Motara
14th Ramadan 1441
8th May 202
فتاوى محمودية: ج 9-ص 537-فاروقية قديم – الفتاوى الهندية: ج1-ص190
ردالمحتار 2- 350-سعيد
