Zakat al-Fitr for Orphans?

It is not correct to say that giving zakat al-fitr to an orphan is absolutely permissible. In the Shafi‘i school, the main criterion is poverty and need, not merely the status of being an orphan. Therefore, if the orphan is poor, then it is permissible to give zakat al-fitr to them. However, if they are wealthy, then it is not permissible to give zakat.

Thus, zakat may only be distributed to those categories mentioned in the Qur’an, as stated in al-Majmu‘ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab by Imam Nawawi:

“ولا يجوز صرف الزكاة إلا إلى الأصناف الثمانية المذكورين في الآية”

(ج 6، ص 190)

And in Mughni al-Muhtaj by Shams al-Din al-Khatib al-Shirbini it is stated:

“ويشترط في الفقير والمسكنة الحاجة”

(ج 4، ص 173)

Both of these references are also available in online libraries such as Al-Maktaba al-Shamela (المكتبة الشاملة).

In conclusion, merely being an orphan is not sufficient to be eligible for zakat rather, the condition of being poor must be fulfilled.