May One Give Zakat To His Her Foster Mother And Father?

May one give zakat to his/her foster mother and father?

Zakat cannot be given to parents, grandparents, sons and daughters, and grandchildren (i.e. ascendants and descendants) (Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar, I, 381). Because if a person gives zakat to these dependants, zakat returns to that person indirectly. However, the one who gives zakat must not profit from and take advantage of their own zakat. Furthermore, it will be the violation of the condition that zakat should be given to the possession of the one in need. As foster parents are not dependants, zakat may be given to them.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA