Is it permissible for an indebted employee whose salary is insufficient to cover the costs of a necessary surgical operation to take from the funds of charity (sadaqah) or zakat, which he was entrusted with distributing, to cover his medical needs?

Scholars have differed regarding the permissibility for an agent to take for himself from the money he is entrusted to distribute. The more cautious approach is to seek permission from those who appointed him. However, some scholars permit taking without permission if the agent is among those who are entitled to the money.