Giving voluntary charity while zakat is still owed

Question

A person who still owes due (wajib) zakat or fasts owed as a debt (missed fasts) nevertheless makes a donation (‘atiyya) or keeps a voluntary fast. Is this action of his correct or not? And if someone has done so, will it be counted towards the fard or not?

Answer

Giving a donation will earn reward, and a voluntary fast will also earn reward; but to be unconcerned about the fard and the wajib and to busy oneself with the voluntary (nafl) is lack of understanding and lack of sense.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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