Does the one upon whom it is obligatory pay the zakah, or is it given to the one in authority?
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The fourth question from the fatwa number ( 1393 )
Q4: To whom is the zakah of money paid? Is it valid for the person paying the zakah to distribute it himself to the poor and the needy, or does he pay it to the rulers, such as the public treasury?
A4: It is recommended for a person to distribute the zakah of his money himself to those who are entitled to it, such as the poor and others mentioned in the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Tawbah 9:60] . And if the one in authority asks for it, then it is prescribed to hand it over to him; because that falls under the category of obedience and compliance in what is right, and by doing so, the obligation is discharged from his responsibility if the guardian is a Muslim. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q4: To whom is the zakah of money paid? Is it valid for the person paying the zakah to distribute it himself to the poor and the needy, or does he pay it to the rulers, such as the public treasury?
A4: It is recommended for a person to distribute the zakah of his money himself to those who are entitled to it, such as the poor and others mentioned in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.