The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' (al-Lajnah ad-Da'imah) has addressed the issue of using Zakat funds for educational purposes.

They clarify that Allah has specified the eight categories of Zakat recipients in the Qur'an. If a student falls into one of these categories, it is permissible to give them Zakat. The most common category students may fall under is 'the poor and the needy' (al-fuqara' wal-masakin). If a student, whether in religious or secular studies, is poor and unable to meet their essential needs (including tuition, books, and living expenses), they can be given Zakat due to their poverty.

The Committee also discussed the category of 'in the cause of Allah' (fee sabeelillah). They state that the primary and unanimously agreed-upon meaning of this category is jihad (struggle in the way of Allah). However, some scholars have expanded its meaning to include the pursuit of Islamic knowledge (talab al-'ilm al-shar'i). Based on this, the Committee ruled that it is permissible to give Zakat to a student who is dedicated to seeking Shari'ah knowledge and is unable to earn a living because of their commitment to their studies. This is because seeking and spreading Islamic knowledge is a form of jihad.

However, the Committee did not extend this ruling to students of secular sciences (like medicine, engineering, etc.) if they are not poor. It is not permissible to give them Zakat from the share of 'fee sabeelillah'. Their education, while potentially beneficial, does not fall under this specific Zakat category unless they also qualify as poor or needy.

Therefore, one must differentiate: a student can receive Zakat if they are poor, regardless of their field of study. A student of Islamic knowledge who is not necessarily poor but is prevented from earning due to their full-time studies can receive it from the 'fee sabeelillah' share.