Is the deceased absolved of debt merely by one of his relatives pledging to pay it, or is actual payment to the creditors required?
The heirs of the deceased must pay off his debt immediately, before executing the will and distributing the inheritance, because the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The soul of a believer is attached to his debt until it is paid off on his behalf." The deceased's liability is discharged if the creditors agree to transfer the debt to another living person, because the purpose is to return rights to their owners or for them to relinquish those rights. However, if the creditors do not agree, then what the deceased left behind must be sold and their rights returned to them as soon as possible.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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