Is the requirement of freedom (Hurriyah) necessary for a Zakat administrator?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Deposits
Primary text
It is not required that the administrator be a free man, because a slave can fulfill the intended purpose of the role just as a free man can, thus a slave may be appointed as an administrator.
Supporting text
The Shafi'i associates state that freedom is a prerequisite because the administration of Zakat is a form of authority (wilayah), which is negated by enslavement, analogous to the judiciary.