Is it permissible for a wife to pay her zakat to her indebted husband if he will spend the money on household expenses and the children, thereby benefiting her and her children, who are her dependents?

Scholars differ on the permissibility of a wife giving her zakat to her husband. It is permitted by Al-Shafi'i and the two companions of Abu Hanifa, and it is one of two narrations from Malik and Ahmad. The opinion of permissibility is stronger, and its evidence is the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to Zaynab, the wife of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud: "Your husband and your child are the most deserving of those upon whom you spend in charity." It is permissible for her to give her zakat to her husband even if he spends on her from it, and he may spend it as he wishes, even if he spends on her and their children from it. It is also permissible for the husband to pay his debts from this money.