In a previous year, I contributed the sahm as-sadah of my khums to a scholar for one of his many projects. I later also gave the sahm al-Imam to him. I later did some research and it seems my contribution of sahm al-Imam was invalid. I have already paid the pending amount, however:
1. I am not sure if the scholar has permission for sahm al-Imam and I never asked him. Was my khums payment valid?
2. If the contribution is not correct, how do I repent (I have already paid the khums amount while clarification is pending?
1. Khums must be paid to the qualified Jurist (marja’ taqlid) or to his representative, and you must receive an official receipt from his office. Otherwise it will not be valid per the fatwa of Sayyid Sistani. For more detail visit this link: https://www.imam-us.org/khums-receipt-authorized-agent/
Anyone who claims to be a representative of a marja’ should prove it by presenting a written, signed and sealed authorization letter by the marja’.
2. You are not at fault, since you were not negligent in paying khums. However, the correction needs to be made, either by getting permission from the representative of your Marja’ on what you have already paid, or by contacting the scholar to make sure that he has the permission to use khums.