Is it permissible to give charity to a man who is in debt and unable to pay it off, or is that permissible only for Zakat? And does the verse, "Indeed, [ prescribed ] charitable offerings are only to be given to the poor and the indigent, and to those who work on [ collecting and distributing ] them, and to those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to [ free ] those in bondage, and to the debt-ridden, and for the cause of God, and to the wayfarer; [ this is ] an obligation from God, and God is all-knowing, all-wise," refer to Sadaqa (charity) or Zakat?
The debtor who is eligible for zakat is one who has incurred debt for a purpose that is not a sin. And whoever is permitted to receive the obligatory zakat is, by scholarly consensus, also permitted to receive voluntary charity and donations, because the category of non-obligatory charity is broader. In the Quran, whenever the term "sadaqah" (charity) is used in an absolute sense, it refers to the obligatory charity.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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