How is the zakah of a debt calculated if it is delayed for three years, for example?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Regarding the zakah of a debt, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : The zakah of what one lends to another person; how does one pay zakah on this, even if it is delayed for three years?
The Shaykh : Does a debt, may Allah bless you, have zakah or not?
There is a distinction. If the debt is owed by someone who is unable to pay, there is no zakah on it, even if it remains for ten years. However, if you receive it, you pay zakah on it for only one year.
The questioner : Or is it zakah for the entire period?
The Shaykh : No, only one year of zakah, no matter how long the period is, provided it is owed by a poor person. But if it is owed by a rich person and you are able to collect it from him, you pay zakah on it every year. However, you have the choice: if you wish, you can pay its zakah along with your wealth every year, or if you wish, you can pay zakah on it for the past years when you collect it.
And it is recommended that you pay its zakah along with your wealth, because a person might die and the heirs might be negligent in paying the zakah, or things might occur that prevent the payment of zakah. So if you pay it along with your wealth, it will be more reassuring for your heart and more comfortable.
The questioner : Even if he delays?
The Shaykh : If the rich person delays, and it is not possible to demand payment from him, such as a father, for example, or a ruler, or an oppressive prince, or the like, then he is like the one who is unable to pay, and there is no zakah on it.
But if he delays and it is possible to demand payment from him, you complain to the prince and he hands it over to you, then zakah is obligatory on you, because the matter is within your control.
The questioner : If the delay is prolonged?
The Shaykh : It does not contradict the second case.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, because you, by your own choice, complained about the second case and your right was obtained. We will conclude the session and the meeting, and we apologize to our brothers who have questions. We will look into the matter, because the truth is that it is one hour and a quarter, approximately. Yes, we can extend it, if Allah wills.
Yes, and by Allah, it is true that I would like it to be longer, but a person ends up having work. The day has started to get shorter and will get even shorter. Perhaps, if Allah wills, we can make it ten and a half, even though if we started at exactly eleven, we would have completed it.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : The zakah of what one lends to another person; how does one pay zakah on this, even if it is delayed for three years?
The Shaykh : Does a debt, may Allah bless you, have zakah or not?
There is a distinction. If the debt is owed by someone who is unable to pay, there is no zakah on it, even if it remains for ten years. However, if you receive it, you pay zakah on it for only one year.
The questioner : Or is it zakah for the entire period?
The Shaykh : No, only one year of zakah, no matter how long the period is, provided it is owed by a poor person. But if it is owed by a rich person and you are able to collect it from him, you pay zakah on it every year. However, you have the choice: if you wish, you can pay its zakah along with your wealth every year, or if you wish, you can pay zakah on it for the past years when you collect it.
And it is recommended that you pay its zakah along with your wealth, because a person might die and the heirs might be negligent in paying the zakah, or things might occur that prevent the payment of zakah. So if you pay it along with your wealth, it will be more reassuring for your heart and more comfortable.
The questioner : Even if he delays?
The Shaykh : If the rich person delays, and it is not possible to demand payment from him, such as a father, for example, or a ruler, or an oppressive prince, or the like, then he is like the one who is unable to pay, and there is no zakah on it.
But if he delays and it is possible to demand payment from him, you complain to the prince and he hands it over to you, then zakah is obligatory on you, because the matter is within your control.
The questioner : If the delay is prolonged?
The Shaykh : It does not contradict the second case.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, because you, by your own choice, complained about the second case and your right was obtained. We will conclude the session and the meeting, and we apologize to our brothers who have questions. We will look into the matter, because the truth is that it is one hour and a quarter, approximately. Yes, we can extend it, if Allah wills.
Yes, and by Allah, it is true that I would like it to be longer, but a person ends up having work. The day has started to get shorter and will get even shorter. Perhaps, if Allah wills, we can make it ten and a half, even though if we started at exactly eleven, we would have completed it.