What is the ruling on paying zakah to settle the debt of one who died owing a debt?
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Question:
What is the ruling on giving zakah money to settle the debt of a man who passed away owing a debt?
Answer:
Zakah is not paid to settle the debts of the deceased; it is paid to the living debtors who are in debt while they are alive. Zakah is given to them to settle the debts they owe if they are unable to pay them off. As for the deceased, zakah is not paid to settle their debts. Allah said, "Establish prayer and give zakah," meaning pay it. He also said:[At-Tawbah 9:60] The intended meaning is the living poor and the living needy.
What is the ruling on giving zakah money to settle the debt of a man who passed away owing a debt?
Answer:
Zakah is not paid to settle the debts of the deceased; it is paid to the living debtors who are in debt while they are alive. Zakah is given to them to settle the debts they owe if they are unable to pay them off. As for the deceased, zakah is not paid to settle their debts. Allah said, "Establish prayer and give zakah," meaning pay it. He also said:
Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah]
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم دفع الزكاة لتسديد دين من مات وعليه دين؟ للشيخ الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.