Is it permissible for one who has debts to invite people or give charity?

The questioner : Is it permissible for the one who has debts in his hands to invite people and be lavish in doing so?

The Shaykh : I mean, in terms of invitations, it is not permissible. Because, for example, if this invitation costs two hundred riyals, he could use that to pay off his debt. As al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) said, he has no right to waste people's money. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

The questioner : His saying (peace and blessings be upon him), "The best charity is that which is given from surplus," indicates that the charity of one who has debts is accepted and rewarded, but it is not the best; it is not like that.

The Shaykh : "From surplus" means that he is wealthy and gives charity. So, one man's livelihood is tight, and another man's livelihood is spacious; the second man's charity is better than the first. As for the one who has debts, the truth is that he has no money at all, because the money in his hand must be used to pay off his debt.