Keeping collected zakat money in store

Question

The zakat money collected in the month of Ramadan — may this zakat money, [which should reach] the deserving person before the Eid prayer, that is, if no needy person is found, be kept accumulated until the end of the year or for some period for some other relief purpose? The details of the above question are as follows. I am the secretary of a Muslim society. Two years ago our society collected, in the name of zakat, a total of one hundred and seventy rupees in the month of Ramadan. Of this money only 37.

Answer

It is better to deliver zakat to the deserving person as soon as possible, so that the obligation (farida) is discharged quickly; but it is not necessary that it be given before the Eid prayer. If deserving people are not present, it may also be delayed, but it should be paid before a full year is completed. Spending it on any other head is not permissible.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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