Jamiatul Ulama KZN

Using Zakaat to clear a debt

· 23 Jumada II 1442 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

A Muslim brother owes me a significant amount of money. A Muslim friend of mine is willing to pay the Muslim brother’s debt with Zakaat money. How can this be done Islamically?

Answer

In principle, a creditor may accept the repayment of a loan from a third party on behalf of the debtor provided that the debtor is an eligible recipient of Zakaat and authorises the third party to do so.

Hence, in the enquired situation, if the Muslim brother (the debtor) is an eligible recipient of Zakaat and he authorises your Muslim friend (the third party) to repay the loan owed to you (the creditor), it will be permissible for you to accept the repayment of the loan and the Zakaat will be discharged.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

View original Compare with other Darul Iftas
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Jamiatul Ulama KZN. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, please ask a Mufti. Report an issue

For corrections or mistakes, please email us at fatawasa786@gmail.com.

Source: Jamiatul Ulama KZN — https://jamiat.org.za/using-zakaat-to-clear-a-debt/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/jamiat-32216

People also ask

Do debts reduce zakaat, and is zakaat due on money owed to me?

“If the zakat recipient allows you to pay off his debts without him personally taking possession of the zakat money, it will be valid.”

Ask Imaam · 126 fatawa from 7 Darul Iftas on this

What the Darul Iftas say

Related fatawa