Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear respected brother may Allah`s (swt) peace be upon you and all muslims. My question in concern is that my brother owes me some money and i would like to know if I have to pay zakat for that which is owed to me. I am currently unemployed and also not that well off so I only pay zakat for what I have got and not what is owed to me. I hope inshallah you can clarify the regarding matter.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Pay zakah on money owed

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If you have loaned some money to your brother, it would indeed be considered part of your excess wealth and you would be liable to pay your annual obligatory zakah on that amount.

But if you have reason to fear that you brother might not pay you back the loan, or you may not at this time have the funds to pay your zakah on the amount loaned ….there is absolutely no harm if you delay the payment of the accumulated zakah when your brother actually returns the loan back to you.

But the amount that you gave as a loan to someone is considered part of your excess wealth, and you would be liable to pay the due zakah on it.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan