I say, and with God's success: The zakat on trade goods is obligatory, and its value is estimated, and it is paid either in kind or in cash when the year is completed. From its value, (2.5%) is given as zakat, and the zakat on debts is not paid by traders until they receive it from them. They pay it for the entire previous period if they hope to recover it, and if they do not hope to recover it, then when the debt is settled, they pay its zakat for only one year. If they have debts to others, they deduct it from the wealth they possess when paying the zakat, and God knows best.