Explanation of the author's statement: "And debt does not prevent it except by demand."
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The Shaykh : He said, "And debt does not prevent it except by demand". "Does not prevent it" means it does not prevent its obligatory nature, except by demand, unlike the zakah of wealth. It has been mentioned previously that debt prevents the obligation according to the well-known view of the school of jurisprudence. Accordingly, the differences mentioned by the author between zakat al-fitr and the zakah of wealth are that debt does not prevent it except by their demand. The reason debt does not prevent it is that debt is attached to wealth, whereas zakat al-fitr is attached to the person's liability. It is prevented only by demand in order to fulfill the debt for which one is being demanded, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) . Therefore, we say that if he is being demanded, and the creditor says, "Give me my debt," and he has nothing but a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg), he gives the creditor this sa'.
There are three opinions regarding this issue. The first opinion is that it does not prevent it absolutely, whether he is demanded or not. The second opinion is that it prevents it absolutely, whether he is demanded or not. The third opinion is the detailed distinction adopted by the author, which is what the author adopted... However, the closest view is that debt does not prevent it absolutely, whether he is demanded or not, just as we said regarding the obligation of the zakah of wealth, except if the debt is due before its obligation. In that case, the debt is paid and his zakat al-fitr is dropped.
The delay of the wealthy is injustice.
مطْل الغني ظلمThere are three opinions regarding this issue. The first opinion is that it does not prevent it absolutely, whether he is demanded or not. The second opinion is that it prevents it absolutely, whether he is demanded or not. The third opinion is the detailed distinction adopted by the author, which is what the author adopted... However, the closest view is that debt does not prevent it absolutely, whether he is demanded or not, just as we said regarding the obligation of the zakah of wealth, except if the debt is due before its obligation. In that case, the debt is paid and his zakat al-fitr is dropped.