Is it obligatory to pay Zakat from the same saved money or from other money? Is it permissible to give a large sum, such as 3000 dirhams, to one person to pay off their debts and bills, or is it better to distribute small sums, such as 100 dirhams, to several people? Is it permissible to count a debt owed to me by someone as part of Zakat funds?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is permissible to pay on wealth either from the wealth itself or from other funds, provided that the amount disbursed is equal to one-quarter of one-tenth (2.5%) of the wealth. It is permissible to give the entire Zakat to a single deserving individual, as it is not obligatory to distribute it among all categories (of recipients); rather, the giving should be according to need and benefit. It is permissible to disburse Zakat to a poor debtor, and after he takes possession of it, there is no harm in him using it to pay off his debt, provided that this is not a ruse to discharge the debt from Zakat funds.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/36245
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 36245
- 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