Ruling on Giving Zakah to One Who Has a Source of Income

Question:
Umm 'Abd al-'Aziz says in her second question—O Shaykh: Is it permissible for me to give my zakah al-mal to a married man who has a small daughter, owns a taxi, and earns about seven hundred pounds from it per month, but then another month passes and the taxi is out of service?
It is known that he is a government employee with a salary of one hundred and fifty pounds.

Answer:
If you know that he is poor, and that a need and poverty have befallen him, then there is no harm. Otherwise, one who has means that suffice for his needs is not given zakah. But if an unexpected circumstance arises, and you know that he is poor, then there is no harm in giving him from the zakah. Otherwise, the principle is that one who has means that suffice for his needs is not given from the zakah.

The presenter: Perhaps you, O Shaykh—may Allah preserve him—can clarify who are the people of zakah to whom it is permissible to give.

The Shaykh: As Allah—Exalted and Majestic is He—said: [Surah al-Tawbah: 60].
These are the people of zakah: (the poor) are well known.
They are those who do not find what suffices them in the year; their means are weak, or they have no means; these are the poor and the needy.
They are the workers whom the one in authority sends to assess the date palms, fruits, sheep, and camels, and to collect the zakah of the camels and sheep. These are called workers whom the one in authority sends, and they are given from the zakah, or from the public treasury.
: They are the leaders and nobles among people who, if they embrace Islam, Allah will guide them. Even if they are disbelievers, they are given, or if they are Muslims, they are given, in the hope that their giving will lead to the Islam of their peers or the strengthening of their faith. These are those whose hearts are to be reconciled: the great nobles who are obeyed in their tribes, and whose giving is hoped to strengthen their faith or lead to the Islam of their peers.
: Freeing of slaves. Slaves are purchased from the zakah to be freed, and likewise the mukatabun who have purchased their freedom from their masters with a debt in their obligation. The mukatab is given what covers the debt he owes, which he used to purchase his freedom from his master.
: The people of debt who have debts upon them, and they are unable to pay them, whether the debts are for reconciling differences or for their needs. If they are unable to pay off the debts, these are the debtors, and they are given from the zakah for the debt, to pay off the debt.
: Jihad. The warriors are given what helps them in their expedition.
The one who passes through the town and is cut off, having nothing, is given, even if he is wealthy in his own land. If he passes through the town and you know that he is cut off, or if he says that he is cut off, and you do not know his condition, and he says that he is cut off; you give him from the zakah, yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you and bless you.