The Duty of One who Pays Zakat Wrongfully
Issue No. 1650- If a person gives zakāt to someone thinking that he is poor, and it transpires later that he was not poor, or he gives zakāt to a person who is not poor, due to not knowing the ruling, it is not sufficient (i.e., zakāt has not been paid properly). Hence, if the thing which he gave to that person still exists, he can take it back and give it to the person entitled to it. In case that thing has perished, and the person, who took it, knew or considered it probable that it was zakāt, he should give its substitute back to the zakāt payer so that he give it to the person entitled to it. However, in case it was given to him (recipient) as a non-zakāt property, nothing can be taken from him. In any case, if he has not come short in identifying the entitled person, it is not necessary for him to pay the zakāt from his property again.
