What is the ruling on giving zakat money to my granddaughter (my daughter’s daughter) to help support her marriage expenses? My granddaughter has graduated from university and has no income other than a pension from her late father. A suitor has made a marriage proposal to her. Is it permissible for me to give her zakat money to help furnish her home?

It is impermissible to give zakat to one’s ascendants (parents, grandparents, etc.) or descendants (children, grandchildren, etc.) whose financial maintenance is obligatory upon the zakat giver. This is because giving zakat to them effectively frees the zakat giver from an obligatory expense, and the benefit ultimately returns to him, making it as though he has given zakat to himself.

However, if the person in question is not obligated to support those relatives, then it is permissible to give them zakat. Imam al-Nawawi stated in Al-Majmu‘ (6/229), “If a child or a parent is poor or needy, and we hold the view in some cases that their financial maintenance is not obligatory, then it is permissible for their parent or child to give them zakat from the share allocated to the poor and needy—without scholarly disagreement—because, in this case, they are treated like non-relatives.”

 

The ruling

Based on the above, it is permissible to give zakat to one’s maternal granddaughter to cover her marriage expenses—up to the amount necessary to meet her basic needs—provided that her financial maintenance is not obligatory upon her maternal grandfather (the zakat giver). This is because the lineage includes a female link (his daughter). This paternal line does not obligate him to support the grandchild though he may give zakat to them if they are eligible.  

And Allah the Almighty knows best