on wealth: debt does not prevent it unless it falls due before Zakah al-Fitr becomes obligatory. In that case, he pays the debt, and Zakah al-Fitr is waived from him.

Thus, he gives on behalf of himself and every Muslim whom he supports

His statement, “Thus, he gives on behalf of himself and every Muslim whom he supports,” means that he must give on his own behalf, based on the statement of Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father): “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made Zakah al-Fitr obligatory upon the young and the old, the free and the enslaved, the male and the female, among the Muslims.” (1)

His statement, “and every Muslim whom he supports,” means: everyone for whose maintenance he provides, such as his wife, mother, father, son, daughter, and others like them whom he supports. It is therefore obligatory upon him to give on their behalf, based on the hadith: “Pay Zakah al-Fitr on behalf of those whom you support.” (2) That is, on behalf of those whose maintenance you undertake. However, this hadith is weak and has a disconnected chain, so it cannot be used as evidence.

There is also the report from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he would give on behalf of himself and his household; he would even give on behalf of his freedman Nafiʿ and on behalf of his children. (3) However, this report does not establish that it is obligatory.

The correct view is that Zakah al-Fitr is individually obligatory upon each person; thus it is obligatory