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Is it permissible to use Zakat funds to pay the divorcees' dower (mahr) if the debtor is insolvent and supports a large family?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If a man owes his divorced wife her deferred dower (mahr), and he does not possess wealth in excess of his expenses, needs, and the needs of those he supports, then he is considered among the 'gharimin' (those in debt), to whom zakat may be given. This is based on the Almighty's saying: ﴿Indeed, zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakat] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.﴾ [At-Tawbah: 60].

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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