FatwaFederal TerritoriesTransactions & Finance
AL-KAFI #1108: ADAKAH WAJIB MEMBAYAR HUTANG NON-MUSLIM?
Is it obligatory to repay debts owed to non-Muslims?
Short answer
Debts owed to non-Muslims must be repaid, because the command to fulfil agreements is general and covers both Muslims and non-Muslims.
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
Debts owed to non-Muslims must be repaid, because the command to fulfil agreements is general and covers both Muslims and non-Muslims. The fatwa notes that the Prophet Muhammad SAW himself took credit from Jewish creditors and settled his obligations well. Scholars also state that debts to a hostile non-Muslim (kafir harbi) must be paid, so the duty applies all the more to non-Muslim citizens living peacefully among Muslims.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Maka jika hak golongan kafir harbi dan tawanan perang kafir pun wajib dihormati dan dipenuhi, maka terlebih patut lagi kita menghormati dan memenuhi perjanjian dengan golongan non-Muslim yang bertaraf warganegara dan hidup dengan aman damai dalam kalangan kita.
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 #1108: ADAKAH WAJIB MEMBAYAR HUTANG NON-MUSLIM?”, 15 February 2019. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/3122-al-kafi-1108-adakah-wajib-membayar-hutang-non-muslim. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/must-repay-debts-owed-to-non-muslims/