Is zakat obligatory on a loan amount that has been outstanding for years, has reached the nisab, and a full hawl has passed over it?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The debt owed to your brother has two scenarios:
1. If the debtor acknowledges the debt and is able to pay it, then is obligatory on it every year. Your brother may pay its zakat annually along with his own wealth, or he may defer its zakat until he collects it, then pay its zakat for all the past years. 2. If the debtor is insolvent or denies the debt, then its zakat is not obligatory except after he collects it. He then pays its zakat for one year or for all the past years, and this latter option is closer to piety.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/165839
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 165839
- 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