Spending zakat on the children of adults

Question

There is an Islamic madrasa here whose expenses exceed its income, so donations are collected. Some people give zakat, but we ourselves are cautious about accepting zakat money; we do not consider tamlik a good thing, so little zakat comes in. Please tell us: if zakat happens to come in, may we spend it on the children of a man who outwardly is not an owner of the nisab and who is also self-respecting?

Answer

Since you are cautious about accepting zakat, it is best that you also refuse whoever gives it. Nevertheless, if a needy student is given zakat money, or is given a primer or a juz’ (a part of the Qur’an) from the zakat fund by way of tamlik (transfer of ownership)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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