Can I use zakat to pay off someone's debt?
Yes, you can use zakat to pay off someone's debt if they genuinely can't repay it. People in debt (al-gharimin) are one of the eight groups the Quran names for zakat. The debt should be for a halal need, and the person shouldn't have enough spare wealth to clear it themselves.
Debtors are named in the Quran
The Prophet ﷺ also told Qabisah ibn Mukhariq that asking for help is allowed for a man who took on a debt to settle a dispute between people, until he has paid it (Sahih Muslim 1044). Debt can crush a person, and zakat is one way the community lifts that weight.
Who qualifies as a debtor
- Someone whose debts are due and who can't pay them from what they own beyond basic needs (home, clothes, transport, tools of work).
- The debt was for something permissible, like rent, medical bills or a failed small business, not for gambling or alcohol, unless the person has sincerely repented.
- A person who borrowed to make peace between others can be helped even if they're not poor, according to many scholars.
For converts carrying interest-based debt from before Islam, zakat can help them escape it. See How do I get out of interest debt as a new Muslim?
Paying the lender directly
Can you send the money straight to the bank or landlord? The Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools generally allow paying the creditor on the debtor's behalf. The Hanafi school stresses that the recipient must own the zakat, so they prefer giving it to the debtor or paying the creditor with the debtor's permission as their agent. In practice, agreeing it with the person first covers every view.
What doesn't count
Most scholars say you can't simply cancel a debt someone owes you and count it as your zakat, because nothing new leaves your hands. Forgiving that debt is a great charity in itself, just not zakat. See Do I pay zakat on money someone owes me? Also, you can't use zakat to clear the debts of people you're already obliged to support, like your own children. See Who can receive zakat?
- People in debt are one of the eight zakat groups.
- The debt should be halal and beyond their means to repay.
- Paying the creditor directly is fine, ideally with the debtor's consent.
- Cancelling a loan owed to you doesn't count as zakat for most scholars.
People also ask
Can I give zakat to refugees?
Yes, you can give zakat to Muslim refugees in need: they often count as poor, needy, debtors or stranded travellers. Non-Muslims can get sadaqah.
Read the full answer →Do I pay zakat on an inheritance I just received?
Zakat on an inheritance isn't due right away: most scholars start its zakat year when you receive it; Hanafis add it to your usual zakat date.
Read the full answer →Do I pay zakat on money in PayPal or Venmo?
Yes, PayPal, Venmo and other app balances count for zakat like bank cash. Add them to your savings and pay 2.5% if the total reaches the nisab.
Read the full answer →Is zakat 2.5% of income or savings?
Zakat is 2.5% of savings held for a lunar year above nisab, not 2.5% of income. Money you spend during the year isn't charged. A worked example.
Read the full answer →Do I pay zakat on a joint bank account?
Yes, but on a joint bank account each person pays zakat only on their own share. Work out who owns what, then check your own nisab.
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