if a person will take responsibility of an orphan to pay his school fee etc., from Zakat is it permissible .. and the orphan’s ancestors has collected a huge amount after his father’s death to construct a house for him and his mother , but the amount collected is restricted to purchase a house .. jazak Allah Khair
Answer
(Fatwa: 763/763/M=1432)
If that orphan is poor and is entitled to receive zakah, that person should make him owner of his zakah amount. Then the orphan is free to spend it in whatever purpose he wishes. He may pay his educational fee. If the orphan hands over the amount to his guardian and asks him to pay his educational fee, then that guardian can do so, but first the amount should be given in his possession.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband