Paying Zakat on Behalf of a Deceased

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abbad ibn Suhayb who has said the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who misses paying Zakat of his assets during his life time. When he is about to die, he calculates all that he owes as Zakat and then in his will states that such and such amount must be paid as Zakat. Can such Zakat be paid to proper beneficiaries? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible and it is taken from all of the assets. It is like debts due on him. The heirs do not have any right in his legacy before payment of such Zakat about which he has made a will.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qashaniy from abu Ayyub Sulayman ibn Muqatil al-Madiniy from Dawud ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Ja‘fariy from his father who has said the following: “During one of his expeditions, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, was performing Salat (prayer) when a caravan passed by. They stopped by the companions of the Messenger of Allah and asked them about him (the Messenger of Allah), prayed, praised and said, ‘Were we not in a hurry we would have waited for the Messenger of Allah, so convey our Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to him (the Messenger of Allah); and they left. The Messenger of Allah became angry and said to them, ‘A caravan stops by and asks you about me. They ask you to convey their Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to me but you do not show any courtesy and invite them for food. Had beloved Ja‘far been present, he would not send the people away without inviting them for food.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about a man who does not pay Zakat until he is about to die. At such time if he pays Zakat in full is that acceptable? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is acceptable? I then asked, ‘If he makes a will that from one-third of his legacy, Zakat which due on him must be paid, will that kind of will be considered sufficient for his Zakat?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is counted as his Zakat and it is not an optional good deed when there are obligatory matters up on him.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from a number of our people who have narrated in a marfu‘ manner the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When your brother (in belief) comes to your house, offer him food, if he did not want, then offer him water and if he did not want water offer him wudu (to wash his face or perfume).’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Shu’ayb who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of my brother who owes a large amount of Zakat, can I pay for him? He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why do you pay it?’ I replied, ‘I do so out of precaution.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Obviously, you provide him great relief.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who at death owed five hundred dirham of Zakat and one Hajjatu al-Islam. His legacy is three hundred dirham. He has made a will about performing Hajjatu al-Islam for him as well as to pay his debt of Zakat. He (the Imam) said, ‘Hajj must be performed for him from the closest distance (Makkah) and the rest is paid for his Zakat.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ali ibn Yaqtin who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal (a.s.), about a man who has died and he owes Zakat. He has made a will about payment of Zakat and his children are needy. If such payment is made it will harm them a great deal. He (the Imam) said, ‘They take the amount of Zakat out of the legacy and pay it to themselves, except something out of it to pay to others.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.