Debtor offsetting his debt with creditor’s Zakaat
Question
Please could Muftisaheb assist with regards to the following scenario:
Person A loans a sum of money to Person B.
After some time, Person A informs Person B that he would like to give Person B a portion of his Zakaat. (No physical cash has been given as yet; Person A simply informed person B that he would like to give Person B some Zakaat money).
Upon hearing this, Person B tells Person A, that Person A should keep all, or a portion, of the zakaat which would’ve been given to Person B, as a repayment of the loan to Person A.
Person B does not specify the amount which should be withheld by Person A, rather, Person B tells Person A to decide how much of Person A’s Zakaat would Person A like to take as a repayment of the loan.
1) Please could Muftisaheb advise if the above scenario is permissible, and if Person A’s Zakaat will be discharged in the above-mentioned manner?
Answer
The Zakaat will not be discharged in the above scenario. It is necessary for person B to first take possession of the Zakaat, and then pay it over to person A, in lieu of the debt.
- Answered by
- Mufti Mohammed Desai
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