Is it permissible for the agent to take from the zakah if he is among those entitled to it?

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. A man gave me a sum of money as zakah on his wealth to distribute it to the people entitled to it.

The Shaykh:
The people entitled to charity, or the people entitled to it from the payer?

The questioner:
He says: I am entitled to the zakah, so this is...

The Shaykh:
The people entitled to the zakah, meaning he gave him the zakah to distribute it to those who are entitled to it.

The questioner:
If he is entitled, he must seek permission. He says, "I am entitled," or otherwise the agent does not take anything for himself except with the permission of the principal.

The Shaykh:
Yes. He asks: Does the ruling differ if it is voluntary charity (sadaqah) rather than zakah? It is all the same; he does not take anything except with the permission of the owner of the wealth. Yes.