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Fatwa CenterRepaying the debt first or fulfilling the vow?
Question
Can an indebted husband receive Zakaah from his wife, when it is due on her to pay it, so as to repay his debts? This man had vowed to offer a certain sum of money in charity if something would happen, and that thing actually happened, but he is now in debt. If he possesses a sum of money, should he repay his debts first or fulfill his vow?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is permissible for a wife to give Zakah that is due on her money to her poor husband. If the husband is unable to repay the debts that he owes to people or fulfill a vow that he has made to Allaah Almighty and then becomes able to do only one of these two, then he should give precedence to repaying the debts to the creditors. This is because Allaah, the Exalted, has strongly emphasized the obligation of fulfilling people's rights. Such rights have to be fulfilled in this worldly life. Allaah, the Exalted, however, may forgive His slaves for failing to fulfill His rights that are due on them. This was highlighted by Ibn Al-‘Arabi 
in his book Ahkam Al-Quran.
Allaah Knows best.
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