Fatwaa ID: 335

Question:
Assalamualaikum Mufti Sahib

My apologies for messaging out of the group. I have a personal zakah question and have family members on the group.

Few years ago we fell victim to a scam due to which we owe money to people. My husband has a payment plan with the rest and I took on the responsibility to pay back the money owed to my father. My father has insisted several times that we pay off everyone else first and leave him to the very end.
I try and save some money every month in order to pay my father whenever he is willing to accept it.
My question is, when calculating my zakah do I include the money I have kept aside to pay my father as I still have possession of it?

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.
May Allaah Ta’aala make it easy for you guys and free you from your current difficulties.
When calculating zakaah, you will deduct any debts that you owe others. Money you have kept aside for anything however will be subject to zakaah. That may not be deducted.
In the enquired situation, when you deduct your debts, it will technically be as though you are not including the money you put aside. However, you must follow the procedure to ensure accuracy. It should be noted that zakaah is on an individual basis. Each person’s wealth is analyzed individually. It may not be calculated with one’s spouse’s wealth. The husband’s debts may not be deducted by the wife from her wealth.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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