Deducting zakaat after forgiving a loan

Q: I gave a few thousands as a loan to someone and did not tell him that I had no intention of taking back. Please tell me:

1. Can I inform him not to pay me back?

2. Can I deduct that amount from my due zakat?

3. Should I inform him that it was zakat?

4. When I was giving him the loan, I had no intention of cutting it from my zakat. 

A:

1. Yes.

2. You cannot deduct the zakaat now.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)