What is the ruling on zakat for money inherited by children from their father? Is zakat due on it for past years? Is it permissible to pay zakat by settling the debt of a brother in hardship? Is it permissible for someone about to get married to take a portion of zakat? Is it permissible to pay zakat in the form of prizes for Quranic recitation competitions?

You must pay the Zakat on the available money from your father's inheritance for all past years, because Zakat is not forfeited by the passage of time. You must also seek forgiveness for him due to his negligence. Your father's forgiveness of your brother's debt is not counted as Zakat, because it is not permissible with the intention of Zakat, and because a father does not pay his Zakat to his son. The general principle is that a child does not receive Zakat from his father, and as a precaution, your brother should not take from the Zakat due from his father's inheritance. It is not permissible to spend Zakat for the purpose mentioned because it becomes a form of exchange, and the recipient might not be among those eligible for Zakat.