Ruling on giving Zakat to one's brother who is in debt

14-1-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

AssalamuAlikom,Hope this message finds you well. Is it possible to give Zakat (زكاه المال) to my brother who is in debt to pay his student loan? He already graduated 2 years ago, he can’t find a suitable job and accordingly hasn’t started paying his debt yet. Thanks!

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

There is nothing wrong with paying your Zakah money to your indebted brother; an insolvent debtor is an eligible recipient of the Zakah. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [Zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.} [Quran 9:60]

Al-Mawsoo‘ah Al-Fiqhiyyah (Fiqh Encyclopedia) reads: “If an insolvent debtor incurs a debt to meet his personal needs that do not involve sins, his debt may be repaid from Zakah funds because he would be an eligible recipient of Zakah.” [End of quote]

It also reads: “If a debtor had incurred a debt to meet his own personal needs, scholars generally agreed that such (insolvent) debtor is an eligible recipient of the Zakah.”

Allah knows best.