Must the Zakat administrator be a jurist (Faqih)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Deposits
Primary text
The administrator is not required to be a jurist if someone else writes down for him what he is entitled to take and defines the limits, just as the Prophet and Abu Bakr wrote such instructions for their agents. The key requirement is defining what he takes and avoids, which is accomplished through written documentation.
Supporting text
It is stipulated that the administrator must be a jurist so that he knows the amount and quality of what is obligatory. We argue against this necessity by referencing the documentation provided by the Prophet and his successor.