Short answer
Yes, with their permission. A husband can pay his wife's zakat, or a son his mother's, from his own money as long as the owner asks or agrees beforehand. In the Hanafi school, zakat paid for someone without their knowledge does not count for them, even if they approve later.
Zakat needs the owner's intention, so it is valid when paid by an agent (wakil) the owner has authorised, whether from the agent's own money or the owner's. Paid without the owner's instruction, it does not discharge his zakat, even if he approves afterwards.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Families often share these duties. A husband pays the zakat on his wife's jewellery, an adult child pays for a parent who has savings but finds the sums hard, or a parent pays for a grown-up child who is studying. This is allowed. When the Prophet ﷺ was told his uncle al-Abbas had not paid, he said that it was on him and as much again, which scholars explain in more than one way, including that he took responsibility for it.
How to do it properly:
- Get the owner's permission first. A standing permission, such as "pay my zakat every year", is enough.
- Work out the amount from their wealth, not yours.
- Make the intention that this is their zakat when you pay or set it aside.
- You may pay from your own money as a gift to them; you do not need to take their money.
If you pay without their knowledge, the money counts as your own sadaqah and you are rewarded for it, but their zakat is still owed. Tell them, get their permission, and pay again if needed.
The same idea is behind paying through a charity or a friend: they are your agents, and your intention is what makes it zakat. See paying zakat through a charity and do husband and wife pay zakat together. The four schools agree that zakat needs the owner's intention.
The evidence
Quran, Surah At-Tawba 9:103
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةًۭ تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌۭ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿١٠٣﴾
Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allah 's blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
Zakat is the owner's own purification, which is why his intention or permission is needed.
Sahih Muslim 983
Sahih... وأما العباس فهي علي ومثلها معها ...
"As for al-Abbas, it is on me, and as much again with it."
The Prophet ﷺ took responsibility for his uncle's zakat, which scholars explain in more than one way.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Zakat, on the intention for zakat and paying through an agent. Zakat paid by an authorised agent is valid; paid without the owner's order it does not count, even if he later approves.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.