If the debtor had died and left no estate, and his debt was paid from the zakah, would that suffice or not?

Question : Now, if the debtor had died and left no estate, and his debt was paid from the zakah, would that suffice or not?

Answer : It does not suffice. Ibn 'Abd al-Barr and Abu 'Ubayd ibn Salam reported that the scholars agreed that it does not suffice. However, the reality is that there is a view in the madhhab of Imam Ahmad that it does suffice. The stronger position is that it does not suffice, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had zakah in his possession, and a person would die without having the means to pay his debt, and he would not be paid from the zakah. Rather, he would refrain from praying over him, even if his family’s hearts were broken, and would not pay any of his debt from the zakah. If it had been permissible to pay the debt of the deceased from the zakah—meaning the debt that was upon him—the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), who was the most merciful of creation toward creation, would have paid it for him and prayed over him. When Allah opened the doors of victory for him and wealth and war spoils became abundant with him, he began paying the debts of the deceased and praying over them.