FatwaFederal TerritoriesTransactions & Finance
AL-KAFI #1836 : ADAKAH WAJIB MENCATAT HUTANG?
Is it obligatory to record a debt as mentioned in Surah al-Baqarah?
Short answer
Recording a debt is recommended (sunnah) and encouraged, not obligatory.
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
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Transactions & Finance
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Recording a debt is recommended (sunnah) and encouraged, not obligatory. Some scholars held it to be obligatory, but the majority view, which this ruling adopts, is that it is recommended. Its purpose is to prevent the debtor from neglecting repayment or forgetting the amount, and to avoid disputes, and there is no sin if a debt is not recorded.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Hukum mencatat hutang adalah sunat dan digalakkan.
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. “AL-KAFI #1836 : ADAKAH WAJIB MENCATAT HUTANG?”, 14 October 2021. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/5012-al-kafi-1836-adakah-wajib-mencatat-hutang. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/is-recording-debt-obligatory/