If a person applies to a Zakaat organization for Zakaat funds to pay for his studies, does the organization have to hand the money to the applicant or

Answer

With the consent of the poor student, the Zakaat payer may pay for any of the legitimate needs of the student. It is not permissible to use Zakaat to pay for university fees in view of these institutions being cauldrons of haraam and immorality. The Zakaat payer may not stipulate how the money should be spent by the Zakaat recipient. The Zakaat will not be discharged if a stipulation is imposed on the student.