Giving Charity While in Debt

Is it permissible for one with educational loans to give charity? Are there any other avenues that are forbidden for such a person to spend his money in?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمد لله رب العالمين و صلى الله على سيدنا محمد و على آله و صحبه و سلم

أما بعد

It is permissible for a debtor to give some of his wealth in charity if:

1. he expects to be able to pay off his debt using his other wealth, and
2. the source [m: of this other wealth] is clear, such as him having a monthly salary.

As for if his giving charity would cause him to be unable to repay his debt, then it is forbidden for him in this case because using [m: his wealth] for payment of the debt is obligatory, which takes precedence over the recommended. Similar to this [m: i.e., payment of debts] is supporting one’s dependents: it is impermissible to give in charity that which one needs to support them, as explained in the Tuhfa, [m: a commentary] on the Minhaj (7.181).

Amjad Rasheed
Amman, Jordan
(Translated by Moustafa Elqabbany)

السؤال: هل يجوز للمديون بقروض ربوية من أجل الدراسة أن يتصدق ؟ وهل هناك أبواب أخرى لا تجوز له الإنفاق فيها ؟

الجواب : يجوز للمديون أن يتصدق بشيء من ماله إذا كان يرجو وفاءَ الدين من غير المال الذي يتصدق به إذا كان له جهة ظاهرة كالراتب الشهري مثلاً ، أما إن كان إذا تصدق بماله لم يجد ما يقضي به الدين فيحرم عليه التصدق به حينئذ ؛ لأن صرفه إلى الدين واجب فيتقدم على المندوب . ومثلُ ذلك نفقةُ العيال فلا يجوز له التصدقُ بما يحتاجه لنفقة عياله . كما هو مبيَّن في "التحفة" مع "المنهاج" (7/181)