How can a debtor pay off old debts to people, some of whom have died or whose whereabouts are unknown?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The debts you owe to people do not lapse with the passage of time. You must pay them to their owners if they are alive, or to their heirs if they have died. By paying the heirs, your obligation is cleared. However, if they have no heirs or you despair of finding them, then give these debts as charity on behalf of their owners.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/78994
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 78994
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy