Who should I give charity to first?
Start with yourself and the people you are responsible for, then your relatives in need, then neighbours and the wider community. The Prophet ﷺ taught this order directly. After your own duties are covered, the person in greatest need near you usually comes first.
The order the Prophet ﷺ gave
He told a man: "Start with yourself and give charity to it. If anything is left, it is for your family. If anything is left after your family, it is for your relatives. And if anything is left after your relatives, then for this and that," pointing in front of him and to his right and left (Sahih Muslim 997). He also said, "The best charity is what is given from surplus, and start with those you support" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1426).
Islam doesn't want you to give away the rent money and leave your children hungry. Looking after your dependants is itself charity: the Prophet ﷺ said the coin you spend on your family carries the greatest reward (Sahih Muslim 995).
Relatives get a double reward
Charity to a poor stranger is charity, but charity to a needy relative is two things at once: charity and keeping family ties (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 658). For converts, this includes non-Muslim parents and siblings. Helping them with voluntary sadaqah is a beautiful act. For zakat the rules are different: you can't give it to parents or children you already support. See Can I give zakat to my parents or siblings?
After family: a simple priority list
- Urgent need: someone facing hunger, eviction or a medical emergency comes before a nice-to-have project.
- Neighbours: the people living next to you have a special right in Islam.
- Your local community: the mosque, food bank or a family you know is struggling.
- Further away: disaster zones and poor countries, where a small amount goes a long way. See Should I give zakat locally or abroad?
Scholars treat this as an order of preference, not a strict rule. If a stranger's need is far greater than a relative's, helping the stranger first can be better.
Don't let the list stop you
You don't have to solve your entire family's finances before giving anything to anyone else. Keep your obligations covered, then give what you can wherever your heart and good sense point you. Small, regular giving beats waiting for the perfect recipient.
- Cover yourself and your dependants first; that spending is rewarded too.
- Needy relatives come next and earn a double reward.
- Then neighbours, your local community and people further away.
- Real urgency can move someone up the list.
People also ask
Can I receive zakat and pay zakat in the same year?
Yes, you can receive zakat and pay zakat in the same year. Zakat you receive becomes your money, and you owe zakat once it meets nisab and hawl.
Read the full answer →Can someone with a job receive zakat?
Yes, someone with a job can receive zakat if their income still doesn't cover basic needs. Who counts as needy, and when a job rules you out.
Read the full answer →Why can't the Prophet's family receive zakat?
The Prophet's family can't receive zakat because he said it is not lawful for Muhammad or his family. Here's why, and who counts as family.
Read the full answer →Is there charity due every day in Islam?
Yes, the Prophet said every joint owes a charity each day, paid by good deeds like dhikr and kind words. Two rak'ahs of Duha cover it all.
Read the full answer →Does charity protect you from calamity?
Yes, charity is a means of Allah's protection and mercy in Islam, but not a guarantee. What the Quran and authentic hadith actually say.
Read the full answer →