Is it permissible to advance the payment of zakah or delay it out of necessity, such as the arrival of a poor person, or the absence of a recipient in that country, or for other reasons?
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The questioner : The questioner says: May the Shaykh please tell us, is it permissible to advance the payment of zakah or delay it out of necessity, such as the arrival of a poor person, or the absence of a recipient in that country, or for other reasons?
The Shaykh : Yes. Advancing it is permissible. As for delaying it, it is not permissible unless there is no recipient in the place, or if he delays it for a more pressing need, such as if people say in Ramadan that the poor are self-sufficient. He may postpone it to Shawwal, to Dhul-Qa'dah, or to Dhul-Hijjah, because they are in greater need, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, he must keep track of it with a specific limit, because he cannot be certain that he will not die and the obligatory duty upon him will be lost. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes. Advancing it is permissible. As for delaying it, it is not permissible unless there is no recipient in the place, or if he delays it for a more pressing need, such as if people say in Ramadan that the poor are self-sufficient. He may postpone it to Shawwal, to Dhul-Qa'dah, or to Dhul-Hijjah, because they are in greater need, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, he must keep track of it with a specific limit, because he cannot be certain that he will not die and the obligatory duty upon him will be lost. Yes.