Does the remaining price of the apartment, for which your son is paying installments, count as debts to be deducted from the profits of the clothing store when calculating business Zakat?
Scholars differ regarding deducting debt from Zakat, and it is more prudent not to deduct it. This is the new opinion of Imam Shafi'i and the choice of Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymin. As for the view of the majority, who permit deduction, you deduct the remaining installments of the established debt upon you, and then pay Zakat on what remains, if it reaches the *nisab*. However, a debt owed by your son, which you volunteer to pay, is not to be deducted from your wealth.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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