What is the meaning of the Prophet (peace be upon him) having made zakat al-Fitr obligatory upon the young and the old? Does this mean that the discerning child sins if he does not pay it, or is it obligatory upon his guardian to pay it from his own money? And does Imam Al-Nawawi's statement mean that the zakat is to be paid from the guardian's money if the child has no money, or from the child's money if he is wealthy, or that the child sins if he does not pay it from his own money?

A non-pubescent child is not held accountable [by religious law] and incurs no sin, based on the hadith: "The pen has been lifted from three: ... and from the child until he reaches puberty." The meaning of zakat being obligatory on his wealth is that his guardian pays it on his behalf. If the guardian falls short, it is he who sins, not the child. If the child does not possess wealth, then his fitra [charity] is obligatory upon whoever supports him. The child is not addressed with the obligation of giving it, and he incurs no sin.