Even if he is indebted to you—for example, if someone owes you money but is poor, and you give him zakah—would that be permissible or not?

The answer: It is permissible, because he falls under the description of being poor. The ruling is contingent upon this attribute, namely poverty, so he may be given zakah.

May one give it to him to settle his debt?

The answer: Yes, because he is a debtor on his own account and is poor, unable to repay. Allah says: “and for those in debt.” But if you say, “Here are one thousand riyals from zakah; use them to repay what you owe me,” this is not permissible. If, however, you say, “Here are one thousand riyals,” because he is a poor debtor, and he may spend it on his debt or on another debt, then this is permissible. And if he returns it to me, that is permissible, because it has become his property.

It is recommended to give it to one’s relatives whose maintenance one is not obliged to provide.

His statement, “It is recommended to give it to one’s relatives whose maintenance one is not obliged to provide,” means that it is recommended to distribute zakah to relatives whose maintenance one is not obligated to provide, such as one’s brother, paternal uncle, maternal uncle, nephew, and the like.

If they are among those eligible for zakah, then the sunnah—and what is preferable—is to distribute one’s zakah to them, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Your charity given to a relative is both charity and maintaining ties of kinship.” (1) Thus, two matters are combined.