Is one’s obligation discharged by appointing charitable organizations to distribute zakah?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: If I give my zakah to trusted charitable organizations, is my obligation thereby discharged?

Answer:
Your obligation is not discharged until the zakah reaches those entitled to it, because these organizations are your agents, not agents of the poor. They are agents of the payer, not agents of the recipient. If it reaches them, your obligation is discharged; if it does not reach them, your obligation is not discharged until it reaches those who are entitled to it. However, if they were agents of the poor, then if you paid it to the agent on behalf of the poor person, your obligation would be discharged.