Which of one’s relatives has precedence for zakat?

Question

Instead of distributing the amount of zakat individually, five or ten rupees at a time, Zayd wishes to choose one deserving (mustahiqq) boy from among his relations and permanently bear all the responsibilities of his education. In such a case, whose son or daughter among the relatives will be deemed entitled first according to the Shari‘a: the brother’s, the sister’s, the maternal aunt’s husband’s or the maternal uncle’s? Please write in detail.

Answer

If they are all equal in need and in the nature of their education, then the brother’s son takes precedence, then the sister’s, then the maternal aunt’s and the maternal uncle’s.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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