Chapter: Paying Zakat

Shaykh al-Islām was asked:

May a merchant pay his obligatory zakat in the form of goods of a kind that is needed?

If someone dies owing him a debt, may he give zakat to one of the deceased’s relatives, if that relative is eligible to receive it, and then recover the debt from him? If he distributes his zakat among the people of another town far enough away for prayers to be shortened, does this discharge his obligation?

He answered:

Praise be to Allah. If he gives the recipient dirhams, this undoubtedly discharges his obligation.

As for giving the equivalent value in another form, there is disagreement: is this permissible in all cases, impermissible in all cases, or permissible in certain circumstances because of a need or an overriding benefit? These are three views within the school of Ahmad and other schools. The last view is the most balanced.

If the zakat recipient wishes to use it to buy clothing, and the owner purchases