Is it permissible to pay zakah on wealth for building mosques and Qur'an memorization circles?

Question : May Allah reward you. The questioner asks: Is it permissible to pay zakah on wealth for building mosques, and likewise for circles for memorizing the Noble Qur'an?

Answer : It is not permissible to spend zakah on building mosques or schools or the like. As for giving it to circles for memorizing the Qur'an, there is no harm in spending it on the poor among them, because of their poverty, not because of their memorization of the Qur'an. Accordingly, if a person gives us money and says, "This is zakah for the students of the circle," from whom do we give? We give to the poor among them and do not give to the rich. As for these matters, namely mosques, schools, circles for memorizing the Qur'an, and the like, Allah has provided another source for them, which is voluntary donation. So donate and give charity; give charity in these things. May Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet, the Imam of the righteous, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.