This study examines the jurisprudential and ethical legitimacy of granting zakat to students of religious knowledge, a matter often debated among Muslim societies and zakat institutions. Drawing upon classical fiqh, maqasid al-shari‘ah, state-level implementation policies in Malaysia, and contemporary empirical data, this paper investigates whether students can be considered valid recipients under the zakat categories of faqir, miskin, or fi sabilillah. It identifies patterns of zakat misuse, explores the maqasid violations caused by unqualified distribution, and proposes a harmonised eligibility framework. Methodologically, this paper combines doctrinal fiqh analysis with qualitative case comparison and policy review. Findings highlight a gap between theoretical rulings and institutional practices, necessitating a paradigm shift towards accountability, ethical literacy, and national-level policy reform. Ultimately, this paper argues that zakat to students is permissible under strict conditions and must be regulated through standardised assessment tools, consistent fiqh-based guidelines, and integration between religious councils and higher education institutions.
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