The ruling on zakah if it is distributed to other than its prescribed recipients
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Regarding a man who pays his zakah annually, but he pays it to those who are not entitled to it: does this zakah suffice for him?
It does not suffice for him. One who pays zakah to someone who is not qualified is like one who did not pay zakah, unless he was convinced in his mind that the person was qualified, and it later turned out that he was not qualified; in that case, it suffices for him.
The questioner: He used to pay it to a poor person, but this poor person is now in a comfortable financial situation?The Shaykh: It is not permissible for him to continue as long as he knows that his poverty has ended.
It does not suffice for him. One who pays zakah to someone who is not qualified is like one who did not pay zakah, unless he was convinced in his mind that the person was qualified, and it later turned out that he was not qualified; in that case, it suffices for him.
The questioner: He used to pay it to a poor person, but this poor person is now in a comfortable financial situation?The Shaykh: It is not permissible for him to continue as long as he knows that his poverty has ended.