Is it permissible to authorize a needy person to purchase the staple food of the land for Zakat al-Fitr, on condition that he does not use it until after sunset on the last day of Ramadan, in cases of extreme need and the absence of any other means of delivering the Zakat?

It is permissible to send money to a poor person and authorize him to purchase Zakat (definition) al-Fitr and take possession of it for himself one or two days before Eid. Some jurists stipulated the intention of Zakat after the purchase, but the most sound opinion is that this is not a condition, suffice it with the authorization for purchase and the intention.