Delivering zakat through a non-Muslim

Question

Concerning the delivery of zakat through a Muslim or a non-Muslim, Zayd says: if someone who delivers [zakat] has undertaken, “I will deliver this zakat to one entitled to it (mustahiqq),” and the payer of zakat has handed over the sum with the intention of paying zakat, then the payer’s zakat has been discharged, whether the deliverer delivers it or not, and whether he is a Muslim or a non-Muslim.

Answer

For paying zakat it is permissible to appoint even a trustworthy non-Muslim as one’s agent (wakil), but merely handing [the sum] over to the agent does not discharge the zakat until he delivers it to a recipient of zakat (masraf).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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