What is the ruling on a wealthy woman who took from the zakah and gave it to the poor?

The Shaykh : A wealthy woman.

The questioner : And yes. She is not in need of money, and I was sitting at the gate of al-Salam, when a man came and gave me some zakah, so I took it and gave it to people who are poor, and I gave them the money. Is this permissible?

The Shaykh : It is not permissible for her. The question is: A wealthy woman who does not need zakah was given zakah by a man, so she took the zakah and gave it to the poor. We say this is an action that is not permissible; this is an action that is not permissible. No person for whom zakah is not lawful may take it from the one who gave it, absolutely. However, if she speaks to the person and he does not deserve zakah, and she says to the one who gave it to her, "I am in no need of it, but would it be a burden on me to give it to the one who deserves it?" then there is no harm in that, and in that case she becomes an agent for the owner of the zakah. As for taking it and then giving it away, that is not permissible. And I say that this woman must, in this situation, if she knows the owner of the zakah, inform him of what happened. If he agrees to that, the sin is removed from her.