I am a doctor and I pay zakat on behalf of my brother to poor patients and they are many. Sometimes I postpone paying it until I ascertain that they are really in need of it. What is the ruling concerning preferring them over local citizens and what is the ruling concerning postponement? May Allaah Almighty Reward you the best.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

It is impermissible to postpone the payment of zakat unless there is an excuse or need. Making sure that these people deserve zakat is considered an excuse that permits one to postpone paying it on the grounds that it must be addressed proportionately. A poor patient residing in a hospital is considered among the poor citizens of the country who are eligible for zakat. It is permissible to give priority to pay zakat to such a person since he is more in need than them and there is nothing wrong with this. The most important matter is that self-inclination must not be the criterion. Allaah Almighty knows he who intends mischief from he who intends good.

Allaah Knows best.