Is Zakat permissible to be given to one's husband?
Chapter on Zakat on Sheep
Al-Mughni
Book of Zakat
Primary text
There are two conflicting reports regarding whether a wife may give her Zakat to her husband. One opinion, held by Abu Bakr and the school of Abu Hanifa, prohibits it. This is because the husband benefits from the Zakat, as it either allows him to fulfill his obligation of maintenance (if poor) or allows him to spend more lavishly (if wealthy), effectively diverting the Zakat's benefit back to him, similar to using it for rent or upkeep of his property. The justification for differentiating this from a creditor is that the wife's right to maintenance is stronger, and there is a customary intertwining of their property.
Supporting text
The second opinion permits the wife to give her Zakat to her husband, based on the Hadith where the Prophet confirmed that the husband and children are the most worthy recipients of her charity, and another report where the Prophet permitted a woman to give her vowed charity to her poor husband. Since the husband's maintenance is not obligatory upon the wife, and there is no decisive text or consensus prohibiting the giving of Zakat to him, the default permissibility stands.