A man has rented an apartment. Now, he is insolvent and he delayed the due rent payment, so his landlord sued him to get his right. This man is poor and destitute. He has children at different levels of education. Is it permissible for the landlord to pay his due Money Zakāh to this tenant, who lives in his apartment, in order to help him pay his debts back whether he owes to him “landlord” or others?
There is no harm in giving the questioner’s Due Money Zakāh to such tenant, as there are two reasons which allow him to take Zakāh; poverty and debt. Allah, Almighty said, “Zakāh expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed for it and for bringing hearts together [for Islām] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allāh and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allāh. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.”
It is also permissible for the landlord to waive the tenant’s debt. Such waive will be considered from his due Money Zakāh. This fatwa is according to one of two opinions of Shāfiˁīs. Ashhab, one of Mālikīs, has the same opinion.