Fatwa ID: 03507

Answered by: Maulana Maqtaur Rahman

Question

I have a quite a large amount of debt to pay off and was wondering if I do qualify for Zakat so that I can get out of my predicament?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

In order for Zakat to be compulsory on a person, they must have money equivalent to the Nisab amount after deducting any debts upon them for the duration of one lunar year.[1]

Therefore, in your situation, if after deducting your debt amount you are remaining with an amount equivalent to the Nisab level, then you will qualify to offer Zakat. Nonetheless, if your remaining amount after deducting your debt does not equal to the amount of the Nisab level, then you do not qualify to offer Zakat.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Muqtaur Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Fatawa-Hindiyyah, v.1 p.189-190, dki prints