Rulings on Zakat al-Fitr: Discharging it on behalf of those for whom one is responsible and its place of distribution

The Shaykh:
May Allah greet you and bless you.

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh Salih, you spoke in yesterday's episode about Zakat al-Fitr. You addressed the basis for its prescription, as well as the wisdom behind the prescription of Zakat al-Fitr. You also spoke about the time for paying Zakat al-Fitr, and about some specific points regarding this charity. You continued and spoke about paying Zakat al-Fitr in monetary value. Do you have any additions regarding this point, Honorable Shaykh?

The Shaykh:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. Yes, among the complete rulings of Zakat al-Fitr is that it is obligatory for a person to pay it on behalf of himself and on behalf of those he supports during the month of Ramadan, even if he is doing so as a volunteer. That is, whoever provides for them during Ramadan, whether providing for them is obligatory upon him or he is doing so as a volunteer, he pays the charity on behalf of himself and on behalf of those he supports, even if it is only during Ramadan.
Also, among the rulings of Zakat al-Fitr is that it is paid in the country where the person is. It is paid in the country where the person is, to the poor of that country, because they have the strongest right to it, and it is not transferred to another country, unless there are no poor people in the country where he is. In that case, it is transferred to the nearest country to him. This is what is prescribed regarding Zakat al-Fitr. Except if it is known that there are poor people in another country who are in greater need, in greater need than the poor of the country where he is, then there is no harm in transferring it to them if they are in greater need than the poor of the country where he is.
Also, among the rulings of Zakat al-Fitr is that it is paid on behalf of the old and the young, the male and the female, the free person and the slave, until it is paid on behalf of the young child, even if he does not fast. It is not restricted to those who fast only, but it is general for every Muslim, whether fasting is obligatory upon him or not, such as a young child. It is even recommended to pay it on behalf of the fetus in the womb. It is recommended to pay Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of the fetus in its mother's womb. As for the newborn, it is obligatory, it is obligatory to pay it on his behalf. Yes.