What is the ruling on giving all of one's money in charity to a man who supports a family and owns no money, and what is the ruling if he is in debt, and how do we reconcile this with Allah Almighty's saying: {and prefer [them] over themselves, even though they are in privation}?

It was narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in the hadith of Abu Hurairah, that a man should start by spending on himself, then his children, then his family, then his servant, and then he knows best. And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "It is enough sin for a person to neglect those he is responsible to feed."

Al-Shirazi and Al-Nawawi said that it is not permissible to give sadaqat al-tatawwu' (voluntary charity) if a person is in need of what he is giving in charity for his own expenses or the expenses of his dependents, or if he has a debt that requires the money to repay.

Regarding the story of the Ansar sahabi who prioritized his guest over himself and his children, Al-Nawawi explained it as not being a matter of voluntary charity, but rather hospitality. Alternatively, he suggested that the children were not in need of food at that time, or that they had already eaten their fill. The intention behind the Ansar sahabi's saying to his wife, "Put the children to sleep," was out of fear that they would ask for food if they remained awake.

In conclusion, commendable altruism ( ithar ) does not involve neglecting an obligation such as providing sustenance or repaying a debt.