Some people habitually give zakah to specific individuals and continue doing so even after they become wealthy

The questioner : Now, you know that many people—I say many people today, or some people—have become accustomed to paying their zakah to specific individuals, and they continue with this for years, even if those who receive the zakah have become wealthy. That is, he pays it to one who is entitled to it. He pays it to one who is recommended. Then he continues. He continues and says, “They have now become accustomed to us and come to us every year, and we are shy to turn them away.” Is it not said, “O Shaykh, is it better to give it to the imam, even if he is not just, than to give it to these people?”

The Shaykh : No, it is said: give it to whoever is entitled to it, and do not give it to the imam, nor to your children. I have mentioned this many times. You find this man is rich, or rather poor, and you give to him, then he becomes wealthy. You know, in our time now, he has received an inheritance, or he has received a profit from land he bought, or something similar to that.

The questioner : Then he comes to you, Abu al-‘Ad.

The Shaykh : Yes, and sometimes he softens it and says, “Abu al-‘Uwaidah.” Yes, he says, “No, we do not give him anything, and we admonish him to fear Allah, and we do not give him anything. He is angry, or he is not angry. But if he is a relative and there is a fear that this will lead to severing family ties, then give him from your wealth as a means of maintaining family ties, and Allah will compensate you for it.