Dayn
Dayn is money one person owes another, such as a loan or an unpaid price, due once its term arrives.
What it means for me: Dayn covers more than a formal loan. Money you owe a shop, a friend, or a bank for something already received counts too. The obligation to repay is real whether or not it is written down, though writing it down protects both sides.
Example: A neighbor lends you money for an emergency repair, with no interest and no fixed date mentioned. The moment the money changes hands, a dayn exists, and you owe it back.
Do not confuse with: *Qard*, the loan contract itself. Qard is the specific contract that creates a dayn. Dayn is the debt that results, however it arose — a loan, an unpaid price, or a wage still owed.
If scholars differ: Most scholars read the Qur'an's instruction to put a debt in writing as strong guidance, not a binding duty. A minority held it obligatory. Scholars also differ on how a debt owed to you affects your own zakat calculation.
Related terms
See the term in context
What is the ruling on Al Rajhi Bank's "Deferred Financing" program, which allows obtaining additional financing with higher profits, where installments do not begin until after the first financing ends? And is it considered a form of "reverting to a debt" (qalb al-dayn)?
We understand from the question that the company will grant the debtor a new loan, the installments of which will not be due until after the expiration of the first loan period. If this is the case, then there is no…
What is the meaning of loan (qard), debt (dayn), deposit (wadi'ah), and investment (istithmar) in Islam, and what is the meaning of loan (qard) in the Holy Quran, and is it permissible to borrow for non-essential matters, such as building a factory?
The answer to the meaning of (loan, deposit, debt, investment) depends on the linguistic meaning and what is customary in banks. The loan has been defined previously. As for a deposit, it is handing over money to…
Why was the word "bequest" (al-waṣiyyah) presented before "debt" (al-dayn) in the Holy Qur’an, even though debt is fulfilled before bequest?
The wisdom behind prioritizing the mention of bequests over debts in the Quran, even though debts take precedence over them by scholarly consensus (Ijma'), stems from several matters, including: 1. The intent to…
Questions that use it
What is the ruling on taking a new Tawarruq (monetization) to pay off an old Tawarruq, given that the bank will deduct the old loan from the new Tawarruq, and is the Sharia board's approval of the contracts sufficient to rule on Tawarruq?
Is it permissible to use credit cards that include the condition of tawarruq for debt repayment? Is this considered "dissolving a debt into a debt"? And is it permissible to charge fees for these cards?
What is the ruling on using the SABB MasterCard which deducts 5% and the remainder is paid through a Tawarruq transaction, knowing that the card is covered by the customer's account and the annual profit margin is 28.68%?