Ruling on Delaying the Payment of Zakah
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Q: Is it permissible to hold onto the zakah in order to give it to one of the poor people whom he has not yet contacted?
A: If the period is short and not long, there is nothing wrong with holding onto the zakah until he gives it to some of the poor among his relatives or those who are in greater poverty and need. However, the period must not be long; it should only be a few days, not many. This applies to the zakah of wealth.
As for zakat al-fitr, it is not to be delayed; rather, it is obligatory that it be paid before the festival prayer, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. It is to be paid one, two, or three days before the festival, and there is nothing wrong with that. It is not to be delayed until after the prayer.
A: If the period is short and not long, there is nothing wrong with holding onto the zakah until he gives it to some of the poor among his relatives or those who are in greater poverty and need. However, the period must not be long; it should only be a few days, not many. This applies to the zakah of wealth.
As for zakat al-fitr, it is not to be delayed; rather, it is obligatory that it be paid before the festival prayer, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. It is to be paid one, two, or three days before the festival, and there is nothing wrong with that. It is not to be delayed until after the prayer.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.