[Q 647] Giving Zakat to Students

QUESTION:

Is it allowed to give zakat to a student who is studying. The money which they have is just for the basic needs including student fees which altogether is less than Nisab. Other than this there is no money on their name. Note that this isn’t a Student of Islamic Knowledge.

ANSWER:

If a Muslim is a Shar‘i Faqir (legally poor person) and is not from among those to whom Zakat cannot be given (such as Banu Hashim, Sadaat, or one’s parents, grandparents, children, or grandchildren, etc.), then Zakat may be given to such a Muslim.

Therefore, if a student is a Shar‘i Faqir (legally poor person), as described in the question, then Zakat may also be given to him. It is not necessary for the recipient to be a student of Islamic knowledge.

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 8th June 2026.