Q: Is zakaat compulsory on a person who possesses the nisaab amount but also has unsettled debts?
A: The principle of shari’at is that after evaluating one’s zakaatable assets one will deduct his liabilities and debts. If the remaining amount reaches the nisaab, zakaat will be waajib.
Examples:
- Nisaab: R3, 000; Zakaatable assets: R10, 000; Liabilities: R8, 000; Balance: R2, 000 = Zakaat will not be waajib.
- Nisaab: R3, 000; Zakaatable assets: R10, 000; Liabilities: R6, 000; Balance: R4, 000 = Zakaat will be waajib.
قال الحصكفي: فارغ عن دين له مطالب من جهة العباد (شامي 2/260)
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)