Who should pay Zakat?

[abdulbasit]

Who is Zakat-ul-Fitr compulsory upon?

I have a friend who is a new Muslim and it is his first Ramadan.

He is 18, a student and is dependent on his parents.

He does a part-time job and earns about $50/week, but he does not handle his money, but his parents, as they are his financial supporters. Does he have to pay Zakat? And how much?

Note: His parents are not Muslim

[Aslam AbuIsmaeel]

Assalamu alaikum

Zakatul Fitr is compuslory  on every Muslim male/female, child/adult, free/slave!  It is to be given by the earning breadwinner of the family on behalf of his dependants.

This 18 year old revert brother if he has financial means more than he needs for his survival for the day of the Eid then he should give ZakatulFitr (i.e. sadaqatul fitr).  It seems that he does, so from this perspective he should give sadaqatul fitr.

However, he is dependent upon his parents for living, so they would need to pay.  Since they are non-Muslims they would not be expected to do that.  However this brother is earning $50/week to help parents look after him.  So, if the financial situation of the brother is more than what the family needs, then if he can keep from his pay check the sadaqatul fitr amount then he should do that.  Sadaqatul fitr is only about $3 worth of food!!  So, if his parents allow that, he should give it for sadaqatul fitr.  But if his parents stop him and say they need even that $3 to look after their son even for that day, then it is their right as they are spending on him more than the $50/week.  Otherwise, if they do not stop him, then so long as the family is not in tight situation with money, the brother should try to take out $3 and give food of it to poor in Sadaqatul fitr. 

If his parents refused to let him that money, then he is free of responsibility.

Wassalamua laikum

[Aslam AbuIsmaeel]

Note: We say for him to pay because the $50/week takes him to have more money than his survival for that day.  However if they were poor and no extra with family, then do not need to pay.  Also, if he had no income then no need to pay as parents supporting him entirely.  Even with this small income, parents supporting him, so they being non-muslims can stop him from that $3 if they need it.  Or else, given the brother has extra he pays as long as he can afford it and is not hard on him or his parents.