The Ruling on Paying Off the Debts of the Indigent from Zakah
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Q: Your Eminence, the distinguished Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz (may Allah preserve him). Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. After that:
I submit this letter to Your Eminence to inform you that, praise be to Allah, royal approval has been granted for the establishment of a charitable society in Tharmada. May Allah reward the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques with the best reward, and guide and support him. Since the society was established to serve the needy, and among the needy, O Shaykh, are those debtors who have no means to pay their creditors, the board of directors has decided that the society should pay the creditors from the zakah received, without giving it to the needy person himself. We request a fatwa from Your Eminence on this matter: Is it permissible for the society to pay the creditors directly on behalf of the indigent without giving the indigent themselves? Please guide us to the Shari'ah ruling in this matter. May Allah straighten your steps and guide you to all good.
A: And upon you be peace, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. After that: There is no harm in the society paying off the debt of the indigent without their permission, according to the most correct of the scholars’ opinions. If they obtain their permission or appoint someone to act on their behalf to receive the zakah from the society and deliver it to the creditors, that is good, and it avoids the difference of opinion.
It is prescribed for the society to seek out those most in need among the poor and the debtors present in the town, so that each of them may receive his share.
May Allah straighten the steps of those in charge of the society, bless their efforts, and multiply their reward. Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
The General President of the Departments of Research
Scientific, Ifta, Da'wah, and Guidance
Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz
I submit this letter to Your Eminence to inform you that, praise be to Allah, royal approval has been granted for the establishment of a charitable society in Tharmada. May Allah reward the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques with the best reward, and guide and support him. Since the society was established to serve the needy, and among the needy, O Shaykh, are those debtors who have no means to pay their creditors, the board of directors has decided that the society should pay the creditors from the zakah received, without giving it to the needy person himself. We request a fatwa from Your Eminence on this matter: Is it permissible for the society to pay the creditors directly on behalf of the indigent without giving the indigent themselves? Please guide us to the Shari'ah ruling in this matter. May Allah straighten your steps and guide you to all good.
A: And upon you be peace, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. After that: There is no harm in the society paying off the debt of the indigent without their permission, according to the most correct of the scholars’ opinions. If they obtain their permission or appoint someone to act on their behalf to receive the zakah from the society and deliver it to the creditors, that is good, and it avoids the difference of opinion.
It is prescribed for the society to seek out those most in need among the poor and the debtors present in the town, so that each of them may receive his share.
May Allah straighten the steps of those in charge of the society, bless their efforts, and multiply their reward. Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
The General President of the Departments of Research
Scientific, Ifta, Da'wah, and Guidance
Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.