he would delay it by the dictates of his nature, trusting that he would not be sinful for the delay, and then it would lapse from him upon death, or the spoilage of his wealth, or his inability to perform it, and the poor would thus be harmed. Furthermore, there is a contextual indication here that necessitates immediacy: Zakah became obligatory due to the need of the poor, and that need is pressing; therefore, the obligation must be pressing. Also, it is an act of worship that recurs, so it is not permissible to delay it until the time for the obligation of the next one arrives, like prayer and fasting. Al-Athram said: I heard Abu Abd Allah being asked about a man upon whose wealth a year has passed, and he delays it beyond the time for Zakah? He said: No, why would he delay its disbursement? And he was stern regarding that. It was said: What if he started its disbursement and began paying it out incrementally? He said: No, rather he shall disburse it all when the year has passed. However, if there is harm for him in expediting the disbursement, such as someone whose year passes before the arrival of the tax collector (sa'i), and he fears that if he disbursed it himself, the collector would take it from him a second time, then he is permitted to delay it. Ahmad explicitly stated this. Similarly, if he fears harm to himself or to wealth other than it in disbursing it, he is permitted to delay it, based on the saying of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "There shall be no harm nor reciprocating of harm." Furthermore, if it is permissible to delay the repayment of a human being's debt for such reasons, then delaying Zakah is even more appropriate.

Section: If he delays it in order to pay it to someone who is more entitled to it, such as a relative or someone in dire need, then if it is a small amount, there is no harm; but if it is a large amount, it is not permissible. Ahmad said: It is not sufficient to pay it to his relatives from the Zakah every month. Meaning: He should not delay its disbursement in order to pay it to them in portions, a little each month. As for if he expedites it and pays it to them, or to others, either in portions or all at once, it is permissible, because he has not delayed it beyond its time. Likewise, if he possesses