Giving Zakah to the women of the village

Q 1: Is it permissible to give Zakah (obligatory charity) to women in a village? It should be known that (Part No. 8; Page No. 378) their husbands are well-off, but do not give them any money. Their husbands only provide the basic needs, such as clothes, food, ...Etc. Many people give their Zakah to female relatives whom they are not obliged to support, such as sisters, maternal aunts, grandmothers, ...Etc. They give them the money in the form of `Eid gifts while it is actually intended to be Zakah. These women become angry if they are not given an `Eid gift. Is it permissible to give some of one's Zakah during the `Eid as Zakah and `Eid gifts at the same time, without informing these women about the real intention of the giver?

A: Zakah should not be paid except to its legal beneficiaries. They are mentioned in the Ayah (Qur'anic verse) in which Allah said: As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât) are only for the Fuqarâ’ (poor), and the Masâkin (needy) and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm), and to free the captives, and for those in debt, and for Allâh’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything) If the women of the village are really poor and needy, then it is permissible to give Zakah to them. Otherwise, it is impermissible to do so. If Zakah was paid while these women were not poor or needy, the person should pay Zakah again to compensate for what he has unduly given. It is impermissible to give Zakah to close relatives whose Nafaqah (obligatory financial support) is obligatory upon the giver, such as grandmother, daughter, mother, father, ...Etc.May Allah grant us success. May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions!