His brother is in debt – can he help him with his zakaah?

Question: 11492

My brother works and has his salary but there is a big money he has to pay and this will take years from him to pay. Can I give him from the Zaka Almal(charity of the money)?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

If
your brother is in debt, and he has a salary which is not sufficient
for him to live on and pay this debt, and he is someone who prays and
will not waste the money in things that are not pleasing to Allaah,
then there is nothing wrong with giving him some of the zakaah from
your money.

Shaykh
Sa’d al-Humayd.

Because he comes under those whom Allaah
describes as (interpretation of the meaning):

“…
those in debt (al-ghaarimeen)…”[al-Tawbah 9:60]

But
if his debt is the result of something haraam such as ribaa or gambling,
then do not give him anything until he repents to Allaah.

Source:

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Was this answer helpful?