The timing of paying zakah during the year or in one lump sum

Question:
The questioner: Shaykh, I have three questions, is that possible? The presenter: Go ahead. The first question is about zakah: do I pay it out over the course of the year, or do I pay it all at once? The presenter: The Shaykh will answer that regarding zakah.

Answer:
The Shaykh: My brother, zakah is to be paid out immediately when it becomes obligatory. It is not permissible to withhold it except to wait for a needy person you expect to arrive, in which case you delay his share until he arrives. As for keeping it with yourself, that is contrary to the obligation, because Allah commanded the payment of zakah when it becomes due, and the command implies immediacy unless there is an excuse. For example, if you do not have any money at the time, you may delay it until the money arrives, and it remains a debt in your possession; there is no harm in that. Or if there is a needy person who is absent, you wait for him to come and keep his right for him; there is no objection to that. The important thing is that if the delay in paying zakah is for an excuse, there is no harm if it is a valid legal excuse. Yes.