By Muftī Sulaiman Moola
The sixth category of zakāh recipients mentioned in the Noble Qur’ān is the Ghārim.
The term ghārim can linguistically refer to both a debtor and a creditor.
If understood as a creditor, it applies to one who is owed money but is unable to recover it from the debtor and, at the same time, does not possess wealth equivalent to the niṣāb threshold. Such a creditor may then qualify to receive zakāh.
However, the more common interpretation among scholars is that ghārim refers to a debtor, a person who may own assets exceeding the niṣāb, yet whose debts are so extensive that, after settling them, they would no longer possess wealth equal to the niṣāb. Such a debtor is therefore eligible to receive zakāh.
The renowned fiqh compendium Al-Fiqh al-Islāmī wa Adillatuh defines this as follows:
الغارم: من لزمه دين ولا يملك نصابا فاضلا عن دينه… من ليس عنده ما يوفي به دينه إذا كان الدين في غير معصية – الفقه الإسلامي وأدلته
“The debtor is one who is liable for a debt and does not possess a niṣāb surplus to his debt… one who does not have enough to settle his debt, provided the debt was not incurred for sinful purposes.”
The expression “liquidating all surplus” refers to selling off all non-essential assets—such as extra properties, luxury vehicles, or high-value items and using the proceeds to repay debts. If, after doing so, the individual’s remaining wealth falls below the niṣāb, they are deemed eligible for zakāh.
Essential needs, such as basic housing, modest clothing, and tools required for earning a livelihood, are not considered surplus and are therefore excluded from this calculation.
