Can Zakat Be Given to Wife

Question

Is it permissible for a husband to give his zakah to his wife in order to pay off debts she incurred before marriage?

Bottom Line

Yes. A husband may give his zakah to his wife to pay off her debts, since he is not Islamically responsible for them. But he cannot give her zakah for her daily maintenance, as that is his duty.

Quick Answer

A husband cannot use zakah to cover his wife’s living expenses, as providing for her is his obligation. However, he may give her zakah to settle debts she owes, even if those debts existed before their marriage. This is because debt repayment is not part of his financial duty toward her.

Key Takeaway

• Zakah cannot replace the husband’s obligation to maintain his wife’s food, clothing, and shelter.
• Scholars unanimously agree it is permissible to give zakah to a spouse to settle debts.
• Debts are not part of the husband’s financial responsibility toward his wife.
• This ruling applies equally if the wife is unable to repay debts incurred before or during marriage.

Detailed Answer

Islam differentiates between a husband’s obligation to provide maintenance (nafaqah) and his wife’s personal debts. Nafaqah is mandatory on him as long as the marriage exists, which means he cannot discharge this duty through zakah.

Ibn al-Mundhir explained that scholars unanimously forbade a man from giving his wife zakah for her maintenance, because this would allow him to avoid an obligation Allah placed on him.

However, when it comes to debt, the ruling is different. Scholars such as Imam ‘Ulaysh clarified that zakah may be given to a spouse if it is specifically for paying off debts or helping someone else in need. This is because debts are not the husband’s financial responsibility.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen extended this principle: just as one may pay off a parent’s debt with zakah if the parent is unable to, a husband may give zakah to his wife if she is indebted.

Thus, the consensus is clear: zakah may be used to pay off the wife’s debts, but not to replace the husband’s duty of maintenance.

Modern Harm

• Misuse of zakah: Treating zakah as a substitute for family support undermines the husband’s duty of responsibility.
• Debt neglect: If debts are ignored under the assumption the husband must cover them, financial injustice results.
• Family imbalance: Clarity in financial roles prevents disputes and ensures zakah reaches its rightful categories.

What This Means for You

If your wife has debts, you may use your zakah to help pay them off. But you cannot give zakah for her food, housing, or clothing, since those are your obligations as a husband. This distinction ensures zakah remains within its rightful limits while preserving family rights.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. At-Tawbah 9:60: Lists the categories eligible for zakah, including those in debt.

Hadith

2. Sahih al-Bukhari 1395: The Prophet ﷺ mentioned debtors among the categories of zakah recipients.

Secondary Sources

3. Ibn al-Mundhir, al-Mughni (2/270): Consensus on prohibition of zakah for spousal maintenance, but permissibility for debt repayment.
4. ‘Ulaysh, Minah al-Jaleel Sharh Mukhtasar Khaleel: Consensus permitting zakah to be used for paying off a spouse’s debts.
5. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Fatawa Nur ‘ala ad-Darb: Clarification on zakah for debts of wife or parents.