FatwaFederal TerritoriesZakat
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-353 : HUKUM MENGHALALKAN HUTANG ORANG YANG DALAM KESUSAHAN SEBAGAI ZAKAT
Is zakat valid if paid by waiving a debt owed by a person in hardship?
Short answer
Scholars differ on this matter. The majority, including the most authoritative view in the Shafi'i school, hold that this method is invalid because the zakat remains the lender's obligation until it is handed over, and zakat payment requires a process of taking and giving.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Zakat
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Scholars differ on this matter. The majority, including the most authoritative view in the Shafi'i school, hold that this method is invalid because the zakat remains the lender's obligation until it is handed over, and zakat payment requires a process of taking and giving. A second opinion, attributed to Hasan al-Basri and Ata', considers it valid, and a contemporary view also allows zakat to be given as a benefit without a transfer of property.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Jumhur ulama' mengatakan bahawa perkara itu tidak dibolehkan dan tidak sah.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-353 : HUKUM MENGHALALKAN HUTANG ORANG YANG DALAM KESUSAHAN SEBAGAI ZAKAT”, 6 January 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/3936-irsyad-al-fatwa-hukum-menghalalkan-hutang-orang-yang-dalam-kesusahan-sebagai-zakat. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/can-zakat-be-paid-by-waiving-debt/