Giving Zakat money for Hajj

Can a Muslim uses his Zakaat money to give for Hajj?  

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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The scholars differed regarding the Zakat money whether or not it can be given to people who want to perform Hajj. There are two different opinions in this regard. The strongest and correct one, however, is that Zakat should not be spent on Hajj, so it should not be given to whoever wants to go for Hajj. This is the view of Imaam Maalik, Abu Haneefah, Al-Shaafi'ee, Ath-Thawri, Abu-Thawr, Ibn Al-Munthir and Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy on all of them. Zakah may only be given to either of the eight kinds of people mentioned in the following verse as Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [Zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveller — an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.}[9:60].

For more details about these eight different kinds of people, please refer to Fataawa: 88368and 86546.

Allaah knows best.