DDHK.ORG - Zakat mal to pay the debt of a deceased relative
Peace, mercy and blessings of God
Ustadz, permission to ask.
If a relative dies and the deceased leaves a lot of debt, can we issue zakat mal, the money given to pay off the debt of the deceased? So, giving zakat mal money to people who have died to pay the debts of the deceased.
Thank you, Ustadz.
Greetings, Fulanah
ANSWER:
ليكم السلام الله ات
Bismillah... Paying the debt is obligatory. In fact, because it is so important to pay debts, it is narrated that when someone dies and has a debt, the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- told his heirs to pay the debt first before the body was buried.
Then, is it permissible for someone to pay off the debt of a deceased person through the zakat given?
Among the people who are entitled to receive zakat are ghorim (people who are in debt), as Allah Subhanahu wata'ala says:
ا لصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَاۤءِ لۡمَسَـٰكِینِ لۡعَـٰمِلِینَ لَیۡهَا لۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ لُوبُهُمۡ وَفِی ٱلرِّقَابِ لۡغَـٰرِمِینَ سَبِیلِ للَّهِ وَٱبۡنِ لسَّبِیلِۖ ٱللَّهِۗ للَّهُ لِیمٌ {٦٠ التوبة: {} التوبة: {} التوبة
"Indeed, zakat is only for the needy, the poor, the amil zakat, those whose hearts are softened (converts), for (liberating) slaves, for (freeing) debtors, for (jihad) in the way of Allah, and for one who is on the way, as an obligation from Allah, Allah is All-knowing, All-wise." {Surat At-Taubah: 60}
Then, how to pay off the debts of people who have died through zakat? Is it directly given to the person who owes the debt (creditor), or does it ask for permission first from the debtor (the person who owes the debt), or here are the heirs?
If it has been permitted by the debtor or his heirs, then this is okay and does not matter. However, if it is not permitted or without prior notification, then according to Imam Nawawi the zakat is invalid even though the debt has been paid off because of it.
So, it's better if we first ask permission from the heirs to pay off the debt of the deceased through zakat, or we give zakat to the heirs first and then give it to the person who owes it (creditors).
Hope it works!
Wallâhu a'lam bish-showâb.
Peace, mercy and blessings of God
...
(Answered by: Ustadz Very Setiyawan, Lc., S.Pd.I., MH)
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