8068
4
14 / 07 / 2026
Please note: this fatwa has been translated by artificial intelligence.
Calculating Debt from Zakat
One of my friends lent her poor sister an amount of 4000 dinars and she has zakat on commercial goods worth 4000 dinars. She wants to calculate her sister's debt as zakat, firstly due to her sister's poverty and secondly because she does not have the 4000 dinars with her for zakat, and she does not have any goods to pay zakat from right now. I know the opinion that states one should possess the amount of zakat in hand before paying it. What is the evidence for this opinion, and is there anyone who disagrees with it to make it easier for people?
Answer
I say, and with God's success: It is not permissible for a debt to be waived, and it is permissible to pay zakat to the debtor and then pay it to the creditor. This is a matter agreed upon by the jurists, because zakat is a strong debt, while ordinary debts are weak debts, and the weak cannot replace the strong. If it were accepted as permissible, the rights of the poor in zakat would be lost; because debtors would consider it as zakat. And God knows best.
