Is one who adopts the view of those who hold that debt exempts one from zakat sinful, especially if the debtor is unable to work and the money available is only enough to pay off the debt and provide for sustenance?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The majority of scholars hold the view that debt negates on internal assets—such as gold, silver, cash, and trade goods—if the debt covers the entire or reduces it. As for external assets—such as livestock and crops—zakat is obligatory on them, and debt does not negate it, according to the majority opinion.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/177690
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 177690
- 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