Does zakat become obligatory upon the debtor, especially if his debt is an usurious loan?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A person in debt is not obligated to pay on hidden wealth (gold, silver, money, and trade goods). However, Zakat is obligatory on apparent wealth (crops, fruits, and livestock). Money borrowed through usury is ill-gotten wealth that must be disposed of by returning it to its owner or returning its equivalent. There is no Zakat on it for the borrower; rather, it is obligatory on its owner.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/56189
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 56189
- 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