Fatwa no. 13886 All praise is due to Allah. May peace and blessing be upon the Last Prophet! To proceedThe Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has reviewed (Part No. 8; Page No. 259) what was sent to the General Chairman from the Charity and Social Services Society, Yanbu`. It is referred to the committee from the Secretariat General of the Council of Senior Scholars with number (6143) and dated 28/10/1410 A.H. The society's question reads as follows:Some citizens and other foreign residents came to us asking those in charge of the society to accept Zakat-ul-Fitr (obligatory charity paid before the Festival of Breaking the Fast), due to their unawareness of the legal recipients worthy of the Zakah in the city. The process runs as follows:1. The society does accept the value of Zakat-ul-Fitr [i.e. does accept it in cash].2. The society then buys rice with the money of Zakat-ul-Fitr delivered to it.3. By the end of Ramadan and at the fixed time of the payment of Zakat-ul-Fitr, the society forms committees for the distribution of Zakah in the city, the neighboring villages and desert communities.Upon the request of the honorable brothers, we present this question hoping to receive the Shar`y (Islamically lawful) opinion in this regard. As for the distribution of Zakah to the neighboring villages and desert communities, we would like to know if it is acceptable when the distribution is delayed beyond the legal time fixed? We are waiting for your Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) on this issue. May Allah grant us all success to do what leads to welfare and goodness! Kindly receive our question and accept our due greetings and assurance of respect!