Question:

What is the ruling of Zakat on gold given to a relative to pay off their debt?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The Answer:

Gold given to a relative to help them pay off their debt is regarded as a loan of gold.  You will have to pay Zakat on the gold content of the item given.  You must take the identical weight and gold content in return from your cousin when receiving your due.

And Allah Ta’ālā Alone Knows Best

Mufti Faraz Adam,
www.darulfiqh.com
 
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(وعاريةُ النَّقدين، والمكيل، والموزون، والمعدود قرض)؛ لأنَّهُ لا ينتفعُ[(1)] بهذه الأشياءِ إلا بالاستهلاكِ إلاَّ إذا عيَّنَ[(2)] الانتفاعَ كاستعارةِ الدَّراهم ليعيِّرَ [بها](3) الميزان[(4)]، أو يُزيِّنَ الدُّكان(5)[(6)][(7)

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(1) قوله: لأنّه لا ينتفع… الخ؛ تقريره: إنَّ الإعارةَ تمليكُ المنافعِ عندنا، كما تقرَّرَ فيما تقدَّم، ولا ينتفعُ بالنقدينِ والمكيل والموزون غالباً، إلا باستهلاكِ أعيانِها، فيقتضي تمليكُ العينِ ضرورة؛ وذلك بالهبةِ أو القرض، والقرضُ أدناهما لكونه متيقَّناً به، أو لأنّه أدناهما ضرراً؛ لأنّه أقلُّ ضرراً على المعطي؛ لأنّه يوجب ردَّ المثل، بخلافِ الهبة، وما هو أقلُّ ضرراً فهو الثابت يقيناً فيثبت. (شرح الوقاية)