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Can I Give Zakah to Relatives against Mother’s Wishes?

05 October, 2026
Q My mother does not allow me, her son, to give Zakah, Islamic gift money payments to near blood relatives, or any type of my money to my blood relatives. But I told my mother's sister, my blood aunty, that I would give my aunty Zakah next month for my aunty's medicine, medical costs, and emergencies. But I think my mother's sister is telling me lies that she/my aunty needs money for medicine. (1) Is it halal or haram for me to give Zakah to my mother's blood sister, my aunty, as I told my aunty I will give her/my aunty Zakah for medicine, medical costs, and emergencies next month? Me giving any type of my money to my mom's sister will make my mother very angry, upset, depressed, and scared of me, her son, if my mom found out that I do actually send my aunty Zakah money. So, is it halal or haram, wajib or Sunnah for me to give Zakah to my aunty when I am clearly going against my mom's command to never ever give my aunty any Zakah or any other type of money? (2) My mother does not allow me to give Zakah or Islamic close relatives' gift money payments to any of my relatives. But I told a female cousin that I will try my best to give my female cousin's husband an Islamic close blood relatives' gift money payment next month without my mother's permission, hiding this money payment from my mother to not hurt my mother. Is it halal, haram, wajib, or Sunnah to give an Islamic close blood relatives' gift payment to my female cousin's husband without my mother's permission, when my mother would be hurt, depressed, worried, and scared of me if my mother does find out that I paid an Islamic close blood relatives' gift payment to the husband of this female cousin of mine too? This female cousin is my mother's blood sister's daughter, and my mother hates her blood sister a lot. I told my female cousin that I will give an Islamic close blood relatives' gift payment to her husband next month. My mother does not allow me to give an Islamic close blood relatives' gift payment to this female cousin of mine, or to her husband too. As my mother does not allow me to give any type of money to any of my near blood relatives, am I allowed to give Zakah or Islamic gift money payments to any of my near blood relatives? Especially when I told a few close blood relatives whom my mother hates a lot that I will give them Zakah for medicine, medical costs, emergencies, and an Islamic Qur'anic financial close blood relative gift payment next month? My mother will be very angry, upset, scared, and depressed if she finds out that I, her male adult son, give some of my money savings in secret as Zakah and Islamic Qur'anic near relatives' money gift payments to any of my mother's blood relatives, including both blood relatives whom my mother hates a lot and also blood relatives whom my mother does not hate a lot. Half of my mind/intellect thinks that some of my blood relatives are telling lies to fool me into thinking that they need money help so that they can purchase non-needed things. But half of my mind/intellect thinks that some of my close blood relatives might need emergency money payment help. My mother hates her blood sister a lot, and the husband of her blood sister too. And my mom does not allow me to give my money in Zakah, Qur'anic Islamic close blood relatives' money gift payments, or to give my money in any method to my mom's blood relatives. (3) And my mother has told me, her son, loads of times that I, her son, am never ever allowed to give any type of money payment to my mother's blood relatives. But sometimes I have told a few blood relatives whom my mother hates a lot that I will give these blood relatives of mine Islamic money payments while hiding this act from my mother because my mother does not allow me to give my money to my mother's blood relatives. So, should I stop telling my mother's blood relatives that I want to give them Zakah or Islamic close relatives' gift payments because my mother does not allow me to do this?

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.


In this fatwa:

If your blood relatives are eligible to receive Zakah and your Zakah is due, you may give it to them despite your mother’s disapproval. You should continue to treat your mother with kindness and respect while fulfilling your Islamic obligations.


Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

Can Your Mother Stop You from Giving Zakah to Relatives?

If the money belongs to you and your Zakah is due, your mother cannot prevent you from fulfilling this obligation to Allah.

You may give your Zakah to a needy aunt, cousin, or other relative who is eligible to receive it. In fact, giving to a deserving relative brings two rewards: the reward of charity and the reward of strengthening family ties.

How to Determine whether Relatives Qualify for Zakah

Before giving Zakah, make a reasonable effort to know whether the person is genuinely in need—for example, because they cannot meet their basic expenses or are struggling with debts they cannot afford to repay.

You do not need to question or embarrass them. At the same time, you should not give Zakah simply because someone asks you for money.

If you are unsure whether they qualify for Zakah, you can still help them with a gift or voluntary charity.

Can You Give Zakah to Relatives while Respecting Your Mother?

You should always speak to your mother with kindness and respect, even when you disagree with her. But respecting our parents does not mean that we can neglect an obligation Allah has placed upon us.

If your Zakah is due and you reasonably believe that your relative is eligible to receive it, you may give it to them even if your mother would prefer that you did not.

At the same time, you do not have to discuss every detail of your charitable giving if doing so will only lead to unnecessary arguments or family tension.

Is Giving Voluntary Charity to Relatives Obligatory?

When it comes to voluntary charity, give according to what you can comfortably afford. You are not required to give money to every relative who asks, and you should not feel forced to make promises because of guilt or family pressure.

You can politely say:

“I cannot promise anything right now. If I am able to help, I will let you know.”

Try to keep a healthy balance: be kind and respectful to your mother, compassionate toward relatives in need, and responsible with your money.

Above all, fulfil your Zakah because it is a duty to Allah. Let your giving be guided by genuine need, wisdom, and sincerity—not guilt, pressure, or family conflict.

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Almighty Allah knows best.

About Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty is a Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada