Alms Tax: Giving Zakat to a Person Acquiring Knowledge
Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Ayatullah Sistani
Ruling 2002
If a person is engaged in acquiring knowledge and were he not acquiring knowledge he would be working for a living, in the event that acquiring that knowledge is an individual obligation, the portion of zakat for the poor can be given to him. If acquiring that knowledge is in the public interest, it is permitted to give zakat to him from the ‘in the way of Allah’ portion with the authorisation of a fully qualified jurist, based on obligatory precaution. In cases other than these two, it is not permitted to give zakat to him.
-Ayatullah Sistani, Practical Laws of Islam, Alms Tax (Zakat)