How should limited funds be divided between relatives and others in need?
2026-10-13
T158 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Original Q&A · Complete source question and answer
Complete original question and answer, 25/93. Obligatory maintenance is distinguished from zakah and expiation, and the equal-need qualification is preserved.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
وسئل عن الصدقة على المحتاجين من الأهل وغيرهم ؟
الجواب
إن كان مال الإنسان لا يتسع للأقارب والأباعد، فإن نفقة القريب واجبة عليه، فلا يعطي البعيد ما يضر بالقريب.
وأما الزكاة والكفارة، فيجوز أن يعطي منها القريب الذي لا ينفق عليه، والقريب أولى إذا استوت الحاجة.
English translation
English translation prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic source. It is not an official translation.
Original question
He was asked about giving charity to needy family members and others.
Answer
If a person's wealth is not enough for both relatives and others, maintenance of the relative is obligatory upon him; he must therefore not give an unrelated person what would harm the relative.
As for zakah and expiation, he may give from them to a relative whom he does not maintain. The relative has priority when the need is equal.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 25/93
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic question and complete answer collated with the cited source text and its adjacent question boundaries. Arabic diacritics omitted, display marks removed and honorific glyphs expanded. Browsing headings and scope notes are editorial.