Is it permissible to pay a portion of a married sister's private school tuition fees from zakat money if she is eligible to receive zakat, and must it be handed to her in cash, or is it permissible to pay it directly to the school?

It is permissible to give zakat (definition) to a sister for her children's education if she has no other means of schooling besides private schools, due to the importance of education for the children's future. Ibn Taymiyyah, for example, permitted using zakat funds to purchase academic books. However, if governmental educational facilities are available, then zakat should not be expended for their education.

As for paying zakat to settle the debt of someone in debt (gharim (definition)), if the conditions for giving zakat to a gharim are met, and the debtor permits it to be paid directly to the creditor, then there is no objection. However, if the debtor does not permit it, jurists have differed on the permissibility of settling his debt without his explicit authorization. Some, like Ibn Uthaymeen, permitted it, arguing that the word "fī" (في - in/for) in the Quranic verse, "And for those in bondage" (وَفِي الرِّقَابِ), does not necessarily imply ownership, thus allowing direct payment to the creditor.