Question
If a person has debts, even though the people he is owing have not stipulated a date for the money to be given to them, is it waajib for him to make qurbani or is it waajib to use money towards paying of debts?
Answer
If a person has less than the Nisaab after deducting the debt amount from his assets then Qurbani will not be Waajib upon him.
However, if a person is not paying the debt immediately (during the days of Qurbani) as it is a long term debt and is therefore left with the Nisaab (during the days of Qurbani) then Qurbani will be Waajib upon him. Yes, if it is a current debt that is due immediately (during the days of Qurbani) thus after subtracting this amount he is left with less than the Nisaab, then Qurbani will not be Waajib upon him.
Also, in the Nisaab of Qurbani the following should be taken into consideration. If a person has an additional home, or an additional piece of land, or additional vehicles over and above his basic vehicle (which is a necessity), whether these additional assets are for business or not, then these additional assets will also be included in one’s Nisaab. Similarly, if a person owns devices of entertainment such as a television set, DVD, additional cellphone, etc. which is not considered as one’s basic needs and necessities then the value of these items will also be included in the Nisaab of Qurbani.
[Re:- Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Pg.308 Vol.6]
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
(بدائع الصنائع ص٦٤ ج٥)