Question:
My sister-in-law is mentally disabled and needs to go to a special school. The school fees are very high, and her family can�t afford to pay the money. Can I give Zakah money to help my sister-in-law pay for her school?

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, thank you very much for having confidence in us, and we hope our efforts, which are purely for Allah's Sake, meet your expectations.

There is nothing wrong, as far as Islam is concerned, in giving Zakah to your sister-in-law, and you will be generously rewarded for that, in sha� Allah.

Responding to your question, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti, Director of the Islamic Center of South Plains, Lubbock, Texas, states the following:

"According to the juristic rule, you cannot give Zakah to anyone that you have to spend on in normal circumstances, like children, wives, etc., but you can give Zakah to other relatives. If your relative is disabled, it is recommended to give Zakah to him or her. Someone asked the Prophet whether he could give Zakah to his relative. The Prophet replied, �It is a sadaqah (charity) and a benevolent act towards relatives.�

Based on this, you can use your Zakah money to pay for the school fees of your disabled sister-in-law."
Responded by: Sheikh Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Ash-Shanqiti