The ruling on taking charity money to pay off a debt owed by another person

The questioner:
He says: I am owed a sum of money by a person. So charity money came to me. Should I take it to pay off that person's debt?

The Shaykh:
Yes.

The questioner:
He says: I am owed a sum of money by a person, so charity money came to me to be distributed. Should they give it with the intention of paying off that person's debt?

The Shaykh:
No, that is not permissible. If you are poor, take it for your own need. If you are poor and among those eligible for zakah, take it for your own need. But taking it as a payment on behalf of the deceased is not a payment on behalf of the deceased, except by the intention of the giver. If the giver intends that this is a payment for the deceased, or from the zakah, it is not paid for the deceased from the zakah. Zakah is for the living, not for the dead. But if someone wants to donate to the deceased and pay off his debt, that is fine. Yes.