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Using Zakat Money to Pay Loan

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by ShariahBoard.org

Assalamu Aleikum,

My father passed away overseas last year and still owes a large sum of money due to a business he owned. I have paid some of the debt, but still need to pay more. One of the people who gave my father money is asking for it back as soon as possible as he is in dire need for it. Can Zakat money be used to pay off this debt? It is financially difficult for me to pay off this debt as well as pay Zakat. I would like to take care of my late father’s debt with in my means. Would Zakat money be ok to be used for that?
Jazak Allah Khairan.

 الجواب وبالله التوفيق 

As per the situation described in your question, the Zakat will not be considered as paid, by paying off the loan with it.

أخرج عبد الرزاق عن الثوري قال: الرجل لا یعطي زکاۃ مالہ من یحبس علی النفقۃ من ذوي أرحامہ ولا یعطیہا في کفن میت ولا دین میت۔ (المصنف لعبد الرزاق / باب لمن الزکاۃ ۴؍۱۱۳ رقم: ۷۱۷۰ بیروت)

إذا قضی دین غیرہ من زکاتہ، فإن قضی بأمر المدیون وکان المدیون فقیراً یجوز، وإن أدی بغیر أمرہ لایجوز، ولا یتصور قضاء الدین عنہ إلا بعد تملیک قدر الزکاۃ عنہ؛ لأنہ لم یرض بوقوع الملک لہ، فلا یمکن أن یجعل ہذا تملیکا منہ؛ فلہذا لا یخرج عن العہدۃ۔

(المحیط البرہاني ۲؍۴۸۰ کوئٹہ)

ولا یقضي بہا دین المیت-الفتاویٰ الہندیۃ ۱؍۱۸۸، تبیین الحقائق ۲؍۱۲

واللہ اعلم  بالصواب

 

This answer was collected from Shariahboard.org. It was established under the supervision of the eminent faqih of our era, Hazrat Shah Mufti Mohammed Navalur Rahman damat barakatuhum.

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