Is it permissible for a father to pay the Zakat on his wealth to his seventeen-year-old son to cover traffic accident compensations owed by him, and will this Zakat be counted on behalf of the father?

If a son does not have money to pay a debt incurred due to an accident, it is permissible for the father to give his zakat (obligatory charity) to his son, because paying the son's debt is not obligatory for the father. In this case, the son is considered one of the gharimin (debtors) who are eligible to receive zakat.

However, if the son intentionally caused damage and harm, he is a sinner, and it is not permissible to give him zakat unless he repents with sincere repentance, because a sinful debtor is not given zakat until after his repentance.