Is it better to pay zakah to debtors or to the destitute poor?
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The questioner : Is it better to pay zakah to debtors or to the destitute poor?
The Shaykh : The need of the poor person is more urgent, because the poor person’s need is present; he needs food, drink, and clothing. The debtor, however, can pay off the debt in the future. Also, if the debtor took people’s money with the intention of repaying it, Allah will pay it off for him, either in this world or in the Hereafter. But the poor person’s need is pressing. For this reason, Allah began with the poor and the needy before all other categories of zakah recipients:[At-Tawbah 9:60].
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The need of the poor person is more urgent, because the poor person’s need is present; he needs food, drink, and clothing. The debtor, however, can pay off the debt in the future. Also, if the debtor took people’s money with the intention of repaying it, Allah will pay it off for him, either in this world or in the Hereafter. But the poor person’s need is pressing. For this reason, Allah began with the poor and the needy before all other categories of zakah recipients:
Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَاِبْنِ السَّبِيلِThe questioner : May Allah reward you.