in the case of ability, whether obligatory or voluntary.

Second: Is agency valid in zakah?

The answer: Yes, agency is valid in it for both the incapable and the capable. That is, a capable person may appoint someone to deliver his zakah to the poor. This is valid even if he says, “Take my zakah from my wealth,” while he does not know its amount—for example, if he says to him, “Assess my wealth, take its zakah, and distribute it in charity to the poor.”

Agency in zakah takes two forms:

The first form is for a person to assess his wealth, determine the zakah due on it, take it out, and then hand it over to the agent. There is no issue with this, and the benefit attained through paying zakah is attained in this case, because the person now feels that he has given away something from the possessions he loves and dislikes parting with; yet Allah loves this, so he gives it away for Allah’s sake.

The second form is for him to appoint someone to assess his wealth and say, “Assess my wealth and pay its zakah.” There is no doubt that he will not have in his heart what the first person had, because he does not feel that he has given away a specific thing to which the soul is attached from among the wealth it loves. Nevertheless, agency is valid, and this is established by the sunnah. Once it is established by the sunnah, it is decisive. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would appoint agents to distribute zakah, to safeguard it, and to collect it.

Once agency is valid in zakah, it makes no difference whether the recipient is specified or not. Thus, one may say, “Give my zakah to so-and-so,” or, “Give it to someone entitled to receive it.” However, if he specifies the recipient, the agent may not distribute the zakah to