The issue of paying off a deceased person's debt with zakah: Is it valid?

The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you. The issue of paying off a debt from zakah is that it is not valid or does not suffice. Does this mean that if a person has a debt and someone gives him from the zakah to pay it off, and he pays it, that it does not count as sufficient?

The Shaykh : It does not revive the man.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : There is no difficulty; it is permissible. If you want to pay off a debt for a living person, it is the same whether you give it to him and he pays it, or you go to his creditor and pay it on his behalf. All of this is permissible.

The questioner : For a deceased person, Shaykh, I mean? This issue?

The Shaykh : No, no, not for a deceased person, but for a living person.

The questioner : What is the scenario where it does not suffice?

The Shaykh : A person, like a deceased man, who had a debt of one thousand riyals and left no estate. So a man went to his creditor and said, "This is one thousand riyals for so-and-so who died." This is not permissible. Voluntary payment is fine, but not as zakah.