Ruling on Giving Zakah to Grandmothers

Q: His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz (may Allah preserve him)
Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings, and after that:
I hope you will graciously answer my question:
I have money whose zakah I pay to needy relatives, namely my maternal grandmother (my mother’s mother) and my paternal grandmother (my grandfather’s wife, who is not my father’s mother). I know that they have a provider other than me. I have heard a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the meaning of which is: How authentic is this hadith? And what is the ruling on the years in which I previously paid it? I do not know how many years it was. I ask Allah to prolong your life and make your knowledge beneficial to the Muslims. Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.

A: And upon you be peace, and Allah’s mercy and blessings, and after that:
The hadith mentioned is authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He said to Abu Talhah al-Ansari when he wanted to give in charity some of his date palms named Bayrha: It is agreed upon that it is authentic. This applies to voluntary charity. As for zakah, there is a distinction. If the relatives are not from the descendants or the ancestors, it is permissible to give zakah to them, such as brothers, maternal uncles, paternal uncles, and the like, if they are poor. Then it becomes both charity and maintaining family ties. Likewise, the grandfather’s wife, if she is not your grandmother and is poor with no provider to meet her needs. You must make up what you spent on your maternal grandmother (your mother’s mother) and on your grandfather’s wife if she is self-sufficient through the maintenance of someone other than you. May Allah guide them all. Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz