What is the ruling on a relative taking from zakat funds to change his university specialization, knowing that there are those among non-relatives who are more in need of it? And does concealing the possibility of exemption from university fees through academic excellence make the money unlawful? And what is the ruling on spending personal allowance on non-essential matters, while it could be used to pay university fees that are covered by zakat?

It is not permissible for a student studying worldly sciences, whose father is providing for him, to take Zakat (definition) money; because he is not among those eligible for Zakat. His father's provision makes him self-sufficient and in no need of Zakat. And if the father does not provide, the student is capable of earning. Therefore, the student must return the money he took to its rightful owners, and the Zakat payer must re-issue the Zakat. If there are two individuals eligible for Zakat, one a relative and the other not, the relative has priority if their needs are equal. However, if the non-relative is in greater need, then addressing his need takes precedence.