The ruling on withholding zakat al-fitr from its rightful recipient

Question:
Honorable Shaykh. A questioner says: A man was given zakat al-fitr by his workers to distribute. He took it, and when he went to the house of a poor woman he knew, he found that she had traveled. So he kept it with him until she returned from her trip so that he could give her this zakat. It is known that she did not return until after the festival. What is the ruling on his action? And does he owe anything?

Answer:
His action is wrong. It is obligatory that, when he did not find her at the time of distribution, he should distribute it to others. He may not withhold it unless she had appointed him as her agent to receive her charity and zakat, in which case there is no harm. But if she did not appoint him, he erred in this action. He must seek forgiveness from Allah and not return to such an action, and he must distribute the zakat that is with him, to her or to others. The important thing is that he distributes it and makes up for the period he withheld it. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you