The Ruling on Zakat on Debts

Question: This is a letter from the sender (M. H.) asking about zakat. In the first question, she says: I am a girl whose father has passed away, leaving me a large inheritance of money. I have lent this money to my brothers. The total amount my father left me is approximately seven hundred thousand riyals. She asks: Do I have to pay zakat on this amount, which is not in my possession and from which I do not benefit? My eldest brother said to me: I will give you an amount of money so you can pay zakat on your wealth, considering that this brother has borrowed a large amount from my money. Is it valid for me to take from him to pay zakat, or is there no zakat on me?

Answer:
If the money is with the brothers and they are wealthy and it is not at risk, then you have zakat on it. You, the questioner, have zakat on it. You must pay zakat on this money, whether it is from the money your eldest brother said he would give you, or from the money you have if you have any.

In conclusion: The brothers who borrowed the money must be looked into. If they are wealthy and the money is not at risk with them, then you have to pay zakat on this money every year. If you delay the zakat until you receive the money and then pay zakat on it for every past year, there is no harm in that.
However, the better and more cautious course is to pay zakat on it every lunar year, out of fear of death and out of fear of forgetting. As long as they are wealthy, you must pay zakat on it every lunar year. This is the money with your brothers as a loan. But if they are unable to pay and poor, and there is a fear that the money with them will not be returned because they are not rich, then you do not have to pay zakat until you receive it. When you receive the money, you start a new lunar year with it because they are unable to pay. This is the detail in this issue. Yes.