FatwaFederal TerritoriesZakat
AL-KAFI # 1751 : MANA LEBIH UTAMA MEMBAYAR ZAKAT HARTA ATAU MENYELESAIKAN HUTANG
Which takes priority between paying zakat on income and settling a debt when funds are too limited to do both at once?
Short answer
When a debt has fallen due and the conditions for zakat are also met, the debt is settled first if the person's wealth is not enough for both.
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
- Zakat
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
When a debt has fallen due and the conditions for zakat are also met, the debt is settled first if the person's wealth is not enough for both. If wealth remains after that and still meets the conditions for zakat, zakat must be paid from it. If the wealth is sufficient, both obligations are settled together. A long-term debt does not reduce the zakat obligation; the issue arises only when the debt is payable at the time zakat becomes due.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Adapun sekiranya hartanya mencukupi, maka hendaklah dilangsaikan kedua-duanya sekaligus kerana kedua-duanya merupakan tuntutan wajib.
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 # 1751 : MANA LEBIH UTAMA MEMBAYAR ZAKAT HARTA ATAU MENYELESAIKAN HUTANG”, 17 September 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/4621-al-kafi-1751-mana-lebih-utama-membayar-zakat-harta-atau-menyelesaikan-hutang. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/zakat-or-debt-which-comes-first/