Should one give Zakāh to non-dependants only? I read that Zakāh should first be given to your close ones (kith & kin). The question is: Should one limit oneself to giving Zakāh to the close ones only, considering that one has a limited amount of money to give out .

A person cannot give Zakāh to fulfil the personal needs of those whose financial responsibility rests upon him. Barring them, one should naturally give Zakāh to those who are more close to him and so on. However, this is not a hard and fast rule which is to be strictly followed. It may hold good in general circumstances, but if one comes across some unknown needy person who really deserves one's help then he can certainly give him the Zakāh money.