What is the ruling on the zakah of debts owed by people?
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The questioner : Is zakah due on it?
The Shaykh : A debt that is in the hands of people is either with the rich or with the poor. If it is with the poor, there is no zakah on it unless you collect it, in which case you pay zakah on it for one year. As for a debt with the rich, zakah is due on it every year. However, if you wish, you may pay its zakah before collecting it, and if you wish...
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : The important thing is: are they poor or rich?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : We will give you the answer. If they are poor, there is no zakah on you unless you collect it. Even if it remains for ten years, there is no zakah on you unless you collect it, in which case you pay zakah for one year when you collect it, even if it remained for ten years.
The questioner : And what about the year that has passed?
The Shaykh : You owe no zakah for it.
The questioner : Do I pay zakah for the current year?
The Shaykh : Only for the current year. And if it is with the rich, you may say, "Give me my money," and they will give it to you. In that case, you pay zakah on it every year. But you have the choice: if you wish, you may pay its zakah along with your wealth before you collect it from them, and if you wish, you may wait until you take it. In this case, if you happen to wait until you take it, and then they become poor and do not pay it, you owe no zakah on it. Whoever has a specific job, please come forward.
The Shaykh : A debt that is in the hands of people is either with the rich or with the poor. If it is with the poor, there is no zakah on it unless you collect it, in which case you pay zakah on it for one year. As for a debt with the rich, zakah is due on it every year. However, if you wish, you may pay its zakah before collecting it, and if you wish...
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : The important thing is: are they poor or rich?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : We will give you the answer. If they are poor, there is no zakah on you unless you collect it. Even if it remains for ten years, there is no zakah on you unless you collect it, in which case you pay zakah for one year when you collect it, even if it remained for ten years.
The questioner : And what about the year that has passed?
The Shaykh : You owe no zakah for it.
The questioner : Do I pay zakah for the current year?
The Shaykh : Only for the current year. And if it is with the rich, you may say, "Give me my money," and they will give it to you. In that case, you pay zakah on it every year. But you have the choice: if you wish, you may pay its zakah along with your wealth before you collect it from them, and if you wish, you may wait until you take it. In this case, if you happen to wait until you take it, and then they become poor and do not pay it, you owe no zakah on it. Whoever has a specific job, please come forward.