Is Zakah permissible to be given to a Muslim relative who is a debtor?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Deposits
Primary text
The majority of our scholars permit giving Zakah to a relative who is a debtor. The rationale for prohibiting the debtor from taking Zakah—which is considered the filth of people—is to protect them from consuming it. If they receive the Zakah specifically to settle their debt and transfer it to their creditors, they do not personally suffer the ignominy or contamination of taking it.
Supporting text
An alternative opinion suggests that it is not permissible to give Zakah to a Muslim relative debtor. This is due to the general texts prohibiting them from receiving Zakah and the fact that Zakah is unlawful for them to possess. Furthermore, the ignominy associated with taking Zakah is incurred whether they consume it or not.