Is There a Zakat Exemption for Someone Struggling Financially Due to Family Responsibilities?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

My mother is handicapped, which limits my ability to invest my wealth or earn income. I have to pay significant zakat on the inheritance I received from my grandparents, and I feel this doesn’t honor their hard work.

Does Islam provide exceptions for someone in my situation? What can I do?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question. You’re in a unique and challenging situation, and it’s inspiring to see your dedication to both your mother’s care and your desire to follow Islam concerning wealth and zakat.

There are no exceptions when it comes to Zakat. View it positively: the money you give benefits those in need. Your contribution of 2.5% can mean the world to someone else, and it is 100% for them. Allah Most High will reward you in ways beyond your imagination and protect you from various harms.

At the outset, your service to your mother and ensuring the legacy of your grandparents is now being spent on the care of the family, your needs, Zakat, and sadaqa. This is an Allah-given success and great honor. This shows acceptance of the wealth that they have left behind and a great progeny. Zakat and sadaqa purify wealth and benefit people in need, as you know. You now just need to gradually look into finding investment opportunities with a trusted person to help and guide you.

As you are busy serving your mother, sit down with a trusted family member and friend and look for passive Sharia-compliant investment opportunities. See the links below.

May Allah (Most High) destine what is good for you. Pray istikhara for guidance and need on this issue and ask Allah (Most High) to destine what is best (khayr) for you, and to continue guiding and inspiring you to do good.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. Insha’ Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

Related

• Goodness to Parents – A Reader
• Halal Investment Guides and FAQs – IFG
• Wahed – Halal investing made simple
• Investments Archives

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance? You can choose from the Islamic Studies Curriculum or Youth Islamic Studies Curriculum and progress through each course step by step.

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.