Question
A man paid his zakat and then discovered that those he gave the zakat to do not deserve it as they are not poor. Does he need to redo it or is he exempt?
Answer
I say, and with God's success: He does not need to repeat his zakat; because the recipients of zakat are known only through ijtihad (juridical reasoning), as there is no definitive understanding of wealth and poverty. Therefore, he has fulfilled the obligation, and as long as he has paid based on his ijtihad that they are eligible recipients of zakat, it is permissible, and God knows best.