Dear respected Shaykh, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. What is the ruling of giving Zakat in installments to those who deserve it? تقسيط الزكاة على من يستحقها

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As to what follows: In response to your question, we say:   It is permissible to give Zakat in installments if there is need to do that, and the person doing so is a person of authority.  For example, if a person receives Zakat on behalf of children or orphans, there is no problem if he gives it to them in installments, because he received the Zakat as an agent on their behalf. It was narrated from Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) that it is permitted to give Zakat in monthly installments to a poor person if this is better for him.