Is it permissible to give Zakat al-Mal (obligatory charity on wealth) to a indebted brother whose salary is insufficient to cover his expenses and debts, without informing him that it is Zakat? And is Zakat obligatory on shares and subscriptions that have not yet yielded a profit?

The recipients of Zakat are eight categories, among them is the gharim, who is the debtor unable to repay his debt. It is permissible to give Zakat to a brother who is a gharim; in fact, he has more right to it because he is a relative. It is not necessary to inform him that it is Zakat unless he would not accept it otherwise, in which case he must be informed.

Zakat on shares is obligatory if the conditions for its obligation are met, whether they have gained or lost value, as long as their value has not fallen below the nisab.