Giving zakat for a murderer’s court case

Question

A Muslim committed a deliberate murder and was sentenced to hanging. His brothers want to file an appeal for him out of zakat and save him from the gallows. May zakat be given to the murderer or not?

Answer

If he is entitled to zakat (mustahiqq), and the zakat money is given to him, and he, having taken possession of that money, spends it on his court case, the zakat will be discharged. If, however, the zakat money is not given to him, but the biradari (a kinship or caste community) collects it and spends it on his court case, the zakat will not be discharged thereby.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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