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Fatwa ID: 21598
Title: How to pay zakat while still paying off a mortgage
Category: Poor-due or obligatory charity (Zakaah)
Scholar: Dr. Main Khalid Al-Qudah
Date: 04/15/2008
Question

We live in the USA, have bought a home and are still paying off the mortgage. The time has come to pay zakat, but we still owe money to the bank. Since we are in still in debt, how would we pay zakat?

Answer

The only amount deductible from the money on which Zakah must be paid is the payment which is due. The rest of the debt is not Zakah-deductible.

 

The same logic applies when you are expecting money in the future. You do not have to pay Zakah on it before you possess it.