Zakaah on loans which may not be repaid
Dear Brothers & Sisters,As-Salaamu-Alaikum 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:
A person has money which he lent to some of his brothers and acquaintances, and he may or may not get it back. He is asking whether he has to pay zakaah on it.
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Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
If a person is owed money by a rich man that reaches the amount of the nisaab, or when added to the money he has would bring the amount up to the nisaab, he must pay zakaah on it, and when he gets the money back he should pay zakaah for the time that has passed, whether it is a year or more. If he pays zakaah on it before he gets it, that is fine. If the person who owes the money is not rich, he should pay zakaah one year after he gets the money, even if more than a year has passed. This is one opinion reported from Imaam Ahmad; it is also the opinion of Maalik and of Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab (may Allaah have mercy on him). Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
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