Is it permissible to pay zakat to those whom I sponsor?

Can I pay zakat to those whom I sponsor?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad , is His slave and messenger.

It is permissible for you to pay your zakat to those whom you voluntarily sponsor. The Hanbali scholar, Al-Buhooti said: “It is sufficient for an individual to pay zakat to those whom he voluntarily added to his dependants like an orphan who is not his heir, based on the general indications of the Hadeeths, and there is no evidence or scholarly consensus excluding this case. It is narrated that the wife of Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood asked the Prophet , regarding giving zakat to her deceased brother`s children whom she sponsored. He , replied in the affirmative.” [Al-Bukhari]

Allaah Knows best.