Is it permissible to pay from the share of debtors (*al-Gharimin*) in Zakat funds to a debtor whose debt resulted from committing a sin (e.g., purchasing intoxicants, gambling, or singing)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Deposits
Primary text
If the debt was incurred for the purpose of committing a sin, such as buying alcohol, or spending on fornication, gambling, or singing, nothing is to be paid to him from Zakat funds before repentance, as this constitutes aiding in sin. Upon repentance, the ruling shifts.
Supporting text
According to Al-Qadi, payment should be made upon repentance, a view favored by Ibn 'Aqil. They argue that the obligation to discharge the debt in one's liability is not itself a sin, and aiding in fulfilling an obligation is an act of closeness to God, not sin, similar to someone who squandered his wealth in sins until he became poor, in which case he is given from the share of the poor. A second opposing view is that payment is not given even after repentance, because the debt was contracted for sin, and paying it is equivalent to the ruling before repentance. Moreover, there is concern that the debtor might revert to incurring debts for sins, relying on the surety that his debt will be cleared, unlike one who merely squandered his wealth, who is given due to poverty, not the sin itself.