Information for "MuwataMalik-017-001-35566"

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yazid Ibn Khusayfa that he had asked Sulayman Ibn Yasar whether zakat was due from a man who had wealth in hand but also owed a debt for the same amount; and he replied; No. Malik said; The position that we are agreed upon concerning a debt is that the lender of it does not pay zakat on it until he gets it back. Even if it stays with the borrower for a number of years before the lender collects it; the lender only has to pay zakat on it once. If he collects an amount of the debt which is not zakatable; and has other wealth which is zakatable; then what he has collected of the debt is added to the rest of his wealth and he pays zakat on the total sum. Malik continued; If he has no ready money other than that which he has collected from his debt; and that does not reach a zakatable amount; then he does not have to pay any zakat. He must; however; keep a record of the amount that he has collected and if; later; he collects another amount which; when added to what he has already collected; brings zakat into effect; then he has to pay zakat on it. Malik continued; Zakat is due on this first amount; together with what he has further collected of the debt owed to him; regardless of whether or not he has used up what he first collected. If what he takes back reaches twenty dinars of gold; or two hundred dirhams of silver he pays zakat on it. He pays zakat on anything else he takes back afte rthat; whether it be a large or small amount; according to the amount. Malik said; What shows that zakat is only taken once from a debt which is out of hand for some years before it is recovered is that if goods remain with a man for trading purposes for some years before he sells them; he only has to pay zakat on their prices once. This is because the one who is owed the debt; or owns the goods; should not have to take the zakat on the debt; or the goods; from anything else; since the zakat on anything is only taken from the thing itself; and not from anything else. Malik said; Our position regarding some onewho owes a debt; and has goods which are worth enough to pay off the debt; and also has an amount of ready money which is zakatable; is that he pays the zakat on the ready money which he has to hand. If; however; he only has enough goods and ready money to pay off the debt; then he does not have to pay any zakat. But if the ready money that he has reaches a zakatable amount over and above the amount of the debt that he owes; then he must pay zakat on it.