Can I Give Zakat to My Sister for Her Marriage Expenses?

The answer is both yes and no. The permissibility of giving Zakat to your sister depends on specific conditions.

Below are the scenarios to consider:

1. If Your Sister Has Her Wealth

• If your sister has enough wealth to cover her marriage expenses, she is not eligible to receive Zakat.
• In Islam, an individual who has sufficient means is not entitled to Zakat assistance.

2. If Your Mother is Well Off

• If your mother has a wealth surplus to her needs, she is responsible for covering your sister’s marriage expenses.
• Ibn Qudaamah stated that parents must provide for their children if the father is absent, as spending on their needs (including marriage) is obligatory for them.
• In this case, you cannot give Zakat to your sister, as her needs should be met by your mother.

3. If Your Mother is Poor

• When the mother is unable to provide for her daughter, the responsibility falls on her siblings.
• A brother is obliged to support his sister only if:
  • He is financially capable.
  • The sister is poor and lacks other sources of financial support.
  • He would inherit from her if she passed away (e.g., no father, grandfather, or children).
• If these conditions apply, Zakat cannot be given to your sister, as maintaining her falls under your obligatory financial responsibility.

4. If You Are Not Financially Obligated

• If you and your siblings are not obligated to provide for your sister due to:
  • Financial incapability on your part.
  • The presence of other heirs responsible for her.
• Then, Zakat can be given to her if she meets the eligibility criteria (e.g., being poor or in debt).
• Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen clarified that Zakat can also be used to pay off her debts since paying debts is not an obligatory responsibility for relatives.

Hence, you may give Zakat to your sister for her marriage expenses only if you are not obligated to provide for her and she qualifies as a Zakat recipient due to her financial need.

And Allah knows best!