Question:
Salaam,
Are you able to deduct 12 months future mortgage payments as a zakat expense? I have a interest bearing mortgage and have been deducting the next 12 monthly installments (excluding interest). Is this correct?
Answer:
Alaykumussalam,
Your mortgage payments are a separate duty of yours to repay your debt. Such repayment does not meet the requirements of zakat because it would be like paying yourself the zakat, and then using that payment to repay your debt. Your deduction is therefore invalid and your zakat remains due.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
