Title: Is zakat wazib if I took personal loan

Question: I am a salaried employee with annual salary 8.32 Lakh (gross). Last year in Nov I took a personal loan (not home loan) to purchase a flat. I have purchased this flat for my personal use, not to earn any kind of profit. I have used all my investment and saving to purchase this flat apart from loan. Now, I don't have any saving and investment. I am paying EMI which is 60% of my salary. I have PF amount of near about 1.75 Lakh which is at the employer, not with me. My wife has 51 thousand in her bank account and jewellery of near about 2 lakhs. Till last year I was paying zakah for myself as well as for my wife jewellery and bank balance. Request you to please suggest: (1) If I need to pay zakah for PF amount 1.75 lakhs. (2) If I need to pay zakah for on behalf of my wife for 51 thousand in her bank account and her jewellery or I don't need to pay zakah till I will pay all my loan/EMI.

Answer ID: 54434Posted on: Aug 31, 2020

Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim !

(Fatwa: 1290/L-426/TL=09/1435) (1) Yet zakah is not wajib on your PF. It shall be wajib when you receive the PF provided the conditions which make zakah wajib are found. (2) If zakah is wajib on your wife then it is necessary on your wife to pay it. It is not wajib on you to pay the zakah of your wife. However, if you pay the zakah of your wife then it shall be paid. The liability of husband and wife is different in Shariah matters. The zakah of your wife shall not be dropped though you are a debtor.