The ruling on giving zakah to a rich person whom one thought was poor

The questioner:
If a person’s condition appears destitute and poverty is evident on him, so you give to him thinking he is in need, and it later turns out he has money, this suffices for you, because you intended it as zakah at the time of giving.

The Shaykh:
You intended it as zakah and gave it based on your predominant assumption, so it suffices for you. Yes.

The questioner:
As for giving to a rich person whom one thought was poor, and voluntary charity is recommended.

The Shaykh:
Yes, in this case, if one gives to a rich person thinking he is poor because of his apparent condition, and people do not know the inner state of others—no one knows their inner states except Allah the Exalted—then if one gives it intending it to be zakah and it turns out the recipient is not entitled to it, the sin is on the one who took it. The sin is on the one who took it, and it is not lawful for him. As for the one who gave it, he has fulfilled what was required of him based on his predominant assumption. Yes.