Scholarly Insight: In Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh), the category of Al Gharimin (those in debt) is explicitly mentioned in Surah At Tawbah (9:60) as one of the eight eligible recipients of Zakat. Scholars differentiate between debts taken for legitimate reasons and those taken for sinful purposes. To qualify for Zakat, the debt must have been incurred for a lawful need like medical expenses, basic housing, or legitimate business losses. Additionally, the focus is on the immediacy of the burden. A long term debt like a standard payment plan does not make someone automatically eligible if they can afford their scheduled payments. The goal of giving Zakat to a debtor is to relieve them from immediate financial distress and the threat of bankruptcy or imprisonment.