A family wants to go on vacation and then do ‘Umrah – can they be given zakaah?
Question

                There is a family of average means who want to go on a summer vacation to al-Taa’if and then go to Makkah to perform ‘Umrah, but they do not have enough money for this trip. What is the ruling on giving them zakaah? Why? If it is permissible, then how much may they be given?.
Praise be to Allah.Allaah has 
    explained the categories to whom zakaah may be given, as He says 
    (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “As-Sadaqaat (here it means Zakaah) are only for the Fuqaraa’ (poor), and 
    Al‑Masaakeen (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to 
    attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to 
    free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allaah’s Cause (i.e. for 
    Mujaahidoon — those fighting in a holy battle), and for the wayfarer (a 
    traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allaah. And 
    Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise”

    [al-Tawbah 9:60]
We have 
    explained this further in the answer to question no.
    6977. 
The poor and 
    needy should be given only what will suffice a person and his family on whom 
    he is obliged to spend according to Islam, with no extravagance or wasting 
    of money. 
What is 
    meant by this spending that is prescribed in Islam is the basic needs of the 
    poor person, such as accommodation, clothing, food, drink, medical treatment 
    and so on. 
Travelling 
    for a vacation is not a basic need for which a poor person may be given 
    zakaah. 
Based on 
    this, it is not permissible to give these people zakaah funds on the basis 
    that they are poor. 
Similarly, 
    they cannot be given zakaah on the basis of being wayfarers, because the 
    wayfarer is one who is actually travelling but does not have enough money 
    with him to reach his destination. He may be given sufficient zakaah to 
    enable him to reach his destination. But these people are still in their 
    home and are not travelling, so they cannot be described as wayfarers. 
This has 
    been explained in the answer to question no.
    35889 
And Allaah 
    knows best.