Ruling on Giving Zakat al-Fitr to a Mosque Imam Who Has Enough to Sustain Himself

This is the first message in the program received from the listener Fadhil Muhammad Ahmad, a Sudanese resident of al-Zahir in Makkah al-Mukarramah.
The first question in his message says:
Is it permissible to give Zakat al-Fitr to the imam of a village, even if he is well-off and not a poor, destitute person? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: Allah prescribed Zakat al-Fitr to provide relief for the poor and those in need, and to feed the indigent. If the imam of a village is well-off and has enough to sustain himself, he is not given Zakat al-Fitr. However, if his salary or stipend is not sufficient for him due to the large size of his dependents, there is no harm in giving him Zakat al-Fitr. Yes.