Money owed
Zakat al-maal and debts
What others owe you, and what you owe others, change the sum in opposite directions.
Zakat al-maal and debts
What you owe now comes off before the nisab is checked; money you are owed and expect back counts. Long debts are where views differ.
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Debts and zakat al-maal: the views
| Debt | Views |
|---|---|
| Owed to you, expected back | Counted each year with your wealth; or paid on once, when it comes back (Muwatta Malik, Book 17, no. 18) |
| Owed to you, unlikely to come back | Not counted until it is repaid |
| Owed by you, due now | Taken off: bills, rent, this month’s repayment |
| A long debt, such as a mortgage | Taken off in full by Sulayman ibn Yasar (Muwatta Malik, Book 17, no. 18); many take off only what is due now |
Common cases
A credit card
The balance you must clear now comes off.
A student loan
Repaid from pay above a threshold, so most is not due now.