Is it permissible to give zakat to an impoverished relative monthly throughout the year, if receiving the money in a single lump sum would cause him to spend it quickly and return to poverty?
There are two scenarios for paying zakat in installments throughout the year:
1. Installments before it becomes due (advance payment of zakat): This is permissible.
2. Installments after it becomes due: This is not permissible, because it leads to delaying zakat after it has become due, and the principle is that zakat must be paid immediately upon its due date.
It states in "Al-Muhadhdhab": "Whoever owes zakat and is able to pay it, is not permitted to delay it."
And in "Hashiyat ad-Dusuqi": "As for it remaining with him, and whenever someone comes to him, he gives them from it, this is not permissible."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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