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Is it permissible to pay the Zakah(obligatory charity) for settling the debt of a deceased relative?

Answered as per Shafi'i Fiqh by Darul Iftaa Jordan
Is it permissible to pay the Zakah(obligatory charity) for settling the debt of a deceased relative?

Answer:
It is impermissible to pay the Zakah for settling the debt of the deceased since Zakah is paid to eligible recipients who are alive. As for the debts of the deceased, they are to be settled from the estate before dividing it amongst the heirs, but if the deceased didn`t leave an estate, then it is desirable for his/her heirs to settle those debts if they can afford them.

This answer was collected from the official government Iftaa Department of Jordan.

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