"Is it permissible for my mother to give her Zakat money to my sister who is studying in another city, or must she give it to someone else, or is she not obligated to pay Zakat at all? "

Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. Regarding the question of a mother giving her zakat to her student daughter, there are two opinions among the jurists: The first is the prohibition of giving zakat to one's ascendants and descendants from the share of the poor and needy. The second is the permission to give it to those whose expenses are not obligatory upon the ascendants and descendants. The predominant view is the second opinion, so if the mother is not obliged to cover her daughter's expenses and the daughter is among the recipients of zakat, it is permissible for the mother to give her zakat to her. However, if the daughter's expenses are obligatory upon her mother, it is not permissible. Zakat must be paid after the lunar year has passed on the ownership of the nisab (85 grams of gold).