Can one give zakat to his close relatives like married sister, a married brother who lives separate?
Answer:
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Charity for the poor is rewarded as one good deed; but in the case of a relative it is considered as two: [one reward for helping] blood ties, and [the other reward for] the charity [itself]." Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and at-Tirmidhi.Thus from the above guidance of prophet Mohammad(pbuh) it is clear that giving zakat to the relatives earns double reward, so if ones sister or brother are poor & needy then they have bigger right to receive the ‘zakat’ from her brother than anyone else.
All those who are not the direct responsibility of the person can receive zakat. The people who are directly under ones responsibility are normally one’s parents, grand-parents, great grand-parents, etc., and wives, and children, grand-children, great grand-children, etc. And Allah alone knows the best.
