Ruling on paying zakah for one whose debt exceeds his assets

Q: Regarding the payment of zakah, if the person liable for zakah has debts greater than what he possesses, does he pay zakah on what is present or not?

A: It is obligatory for one who possesses zakatable wealth to pay his zakah when the lunar year of possession has passed, even if he has a debt, according to the stronger of the two opinions of the scholars. This is due to the generality of the evidence indicating the obligation of zakah on one who possesses wealth subject to zakah when the lunar year of possession has passed, even if he has a debt. It is also because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to order his agents to take zakah from those who were liable for it, and he did not order them to ask them whether they had debts or not. If the debt had prevented the obligation, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have ordered his agents to inquire of the people liable for zakah whether they had debts. And success is from Allah.