Zakah on a Debt
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Question: I have a debt owed to me by one of my friends, and I am in dire need of this amount, but my friend is unable to pay. Is zakah due on this amount, even if this period extends for years? And do I have to pay it out every year, or do I accumulate it and delay it until I collect it from him?
Answer: The correct opinion among the scholars is that if the debt is owed by a bankrupt person, one pays zakah on it for one year when he collects it. As for the past years while it was in the debt of the bankrupt person, there is no zakah on it, because it is exposed to the risk of not being recovered. So when he collects it, he must pay zakah on it for one year.
I left this job, and I have debts remaining with some people. Is it permissible for me to leave them with them, considering them as zakah, or not? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: Leaving the debts does not suffice as zakah for the money in your possession. The money in your possession must be paid zakah on, and you must pay its zakah from it, or from other wealth you obtain.
As for the debts, their zakah is included in them. If these debts are owed by wealthy and generous people, it is obligatory for you to pay zakah on them every year, whether you collect them or not. However, if the debts are owed by people who are unable to pay, and you fear that you will not receive them or recover them, then it is not obligatory for you to pay zakah on them until you collect them, in which case you pay zakah on them for one year.
Question: If an agreement is reached with this wealthy debtor that he will pay the zakah on this money, is this valid?
Answer: This is not sufficient. Rather, the one who pays the zakah and gives the zakah is the owner of the wealth.
Answer: The correct opinion among the scholars is that if the debt is owed by a bankrupt person, one pays zakah on it for one year when he collects it. As for the past years while it was in the debt of the bankrupt person, there is no zakah on it, because it is exposed to the risk of not being recovered. So when he collects it, he must pay zakah on it for one year.
I left this job, and I have debts remaining with some people. Is it permissible for me to leave them with them, considering them as zakah, or not? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: Leaving the debts does not suffice as zakah for the money in your possession. The money in your possession must be paid zakah on, and you must pay its zakah from it, or from other wealth you obtain.
As for the debts, their zakah is included in them. If these debts are owed by wealthy and generous people, it is obligatory for you to pay zakah on them every year, whether you collect them or not. However, if the debts are owed by people who are unable to pay, and you fear that you will not receive them or recover them, then it is not obligatory for you to pay zakah on them until you collect them, in which case you pay zakah on them for one year.
Question: If an agreement is reached with this wealthy debtor that he will pay the zakah on this money, is this valid?
Answer: This is not sufficient. Rather, the one who pays the zakah and gives the zakah is the owner of the wealth.