My elder brother expired. His widow and 12 years old son stay with me. As I’m not well, my sister in law takes care of me. She doesn’t have any source of income. So can I give her zakat and fidya for her personal use. Please reply as soon as possible.
In principle, zakat can be given to one’s sister in law if she is a valid deserving recipient with net zakatable assets below Nisab benchmark. The information in the question does not clarify her shar’i financial status. Not having an income and being a widow are not an explicit indication of her financial status.
In order to make sure, you need to inquire from her about her possessions. If after removing any liabilities and loans she may have, from any gold, silver or any other saved away zakatable assets, she does not have more than Nisab, then she will be shar’an financially poor and eligible to accept zakat (even from you as well).
It may be difficult to ask this bluntly, but you could approach and say that “someone” is giving out zakat monies, and you need to know if she has any jewelry, etc. which would not allow her to accept zakat. You may then rely on her word and make your decision whether to dispense zakat to her or not. Zakat is an ibaada, whose validity not only affects her, but you as well.
The same rule will apply to fidya as well.