Is it permissible - for the owner of wealth who lent a sum of money to a brother of his, and that brother is unable to repay this sum - to consider that debt as zakah?

The questioner : 3.

The Shaykh: Go ahead.

The questioner : My cousin, my uncle's son, the son of my father, borrowed from me a year and a half ago one hundred and fifty dinars. The man's circumstances are very difficult; their situation is hard to the extreme. And I am unable to recover the money from him. I always try to get it from him, but I find it difficult because of the bad circumstances he is going through. So, is it permissible for me to give him that money from the zakah of the wealth I have? I mean, for example.

The Shaykh : I understood. I will give you the answer. If this debt is dead, it is not permissible for it to be a substitute for zakah; but if the debt is alive in your estimation, and you are the one who knows best, it is permissible on the condition that you say to the debtor, "I have one hundred and fifty dinars with you; consider them as zakah from me to you, and I have nothing with you, so you are free of your obligation to me." If he accepts from you, then that is fine; otherwise, it is not.

The questioner : It is my habit to give it out on the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah, so the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah will coincide with me being in America. So I want to advance giving this news before my travel. Is this permissible?

The Shaykh : What is wrong with them? Yes, it is permissible.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with all good, our Shaykh.

The Shaykh : You are welcome.