Zakat Q/A's

[ummtaalib]

Paying Zakaat before it is due

 

Q. Can I give extra Zakaat after I give my Zakaat for the current year? If I can, would it be counted as Zakaat for the following year or would it be counted as optional charity? 

 

 

A. It is permissible for a person to discharge Zakaat for the following lunar year after discharging Zakaat for the current lunar year. This is subject to the following conditions:

 

a) a person possesses the Zakaat Nisaab amount at the time of discharging Zakaat.

b) a person's financial condition remains such that he is liable to pay Zakaat for the following year.

 

If a person did not fulfil the above mentioned conditions, then the extra amount given as Zakaat will not be counted as Zakaat. It would be counted as optional charity. However, if the above conditions were fulfilled, then the extra amount given as Zakaat for the following year would be counted in the following years Zakaat. (Hindiyyah 1/176) 

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

 

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

 

Confirmation: 

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

 

(Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh) 

 

Fatwa Department

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)

 

Council of Muslim Theologian

[ummtaalib]

Is it permissible to pay Zakat in installments?

 

Question:

Is it permissible to pay Zakat in installments?

 

 

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

 

The Answer:

The payment of Zakat is binding on one’s Zakat anniversary.  To delay paying Zakat without a reasonable and genuine excuse is blameworthy.

 

If it is genuinely difficult to pay Zakat in lump sum, one may pay Zakat in advance for the following year in instalments.  For example, one can start paying Zakat monthly from Shawwal 1437AH for the Zakat payment due in Ramadhan 1438AH.

 

A person usually has an idea of how much Zakat they pay yearly, they can use that amount as a proxy and divide that amount across the months and pay Zakat in monthly installments.  When one’s Zakat anniversary arrives, one should check whether the paid amount offsets the total amount due.  If there is a shortfall, one must make up difference.

 

However, some contemporary senior Muftis like Mufti Mahmudul Hasan rahimahullah, Mufti Khalid Saifullah, Mufti Radha al-Haqq and Mufti Salman Mansurpuri have permitted paying in installments in arrears if one cannot pay in lump sum on the Zakat anniversary.  The inability to pay the total Zakat due is a genuine reason to delay paying the full amount and thus, one may pay in installments for the previous Zakat anniversary in arrears.  Mufti Mahmudul Hasan rahimahullah adds that one should clear off the outstanding Zakat balance before the passing of a lunar year.

 

Paying Zakat in advance is accepted in the Hanafi school and considered sinless, whereas, paying in arrears although legally valid, has a potential of blame if there is no reasonable excuse for the delay.  Thus, paying in advance when difficult to pay in lump sum would be ideal, however, one also has the option and discretion of paying in arrears as stated by the Muftis above.  

 

And Allah Ta’ālā Alone Knows Best

Mufti Faraz Adam al-Mahmudi,

www.darulfiqh.com

[ummtaalib]

Using Zakaat for burial expenses

 

Q. Can we use Zakaat money to assist in the burial and funeral expenses of the deceased who did not own anything and did not leave anything for his heirs? The deceased family does not own anything as well?

 

(Question published as received)

 

A. One of the primary requisites of discharging ones Zakaat is to discharge it to an eligible recipient of Zakaat by making him the owner of it i.e. Tamleek (giving him full ownership of it) must take place.

 

A deceased person does not have the capacity to take ownership, hence the requirement of Tamleek is not fulfilled irrespective of whether he was a Zakaat recipient or not. Hence Zakaat cannot be given to the deceased for his/her funeral and burial expenses.

 

However, if the deceased’s family members qualify as recipients of Zakaat, then a person may give Zakaat to them and they may, in turn, use it for the funeral and burial expenses of the deceased if they wish. (Hindiyyah 6/392)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

 

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

 

Confirmation: 

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

 

(Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh) 

 

Fatwa Department

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) 

Council of Muslim Theologians

[ummtaalib]

Is there Zakat on Air Miles?

 

Question:

Is there Zakat on Air Miles?

 

 

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

 

The Answer:

Air Miles, frequent flyer miles or travel points are not subject to Zakat.  These reward points will not be added to one’s Zakatable assets regardless of what they can redeem.

 

The Fiqh (jurisprudence of the Answer):

Air Miles are not considered to be Māl (wealth) in terms of Shariah and hence are not considered for Zakat[1].

 

Zakat is only binding on entities which are Māl (wealth) which are productive (nāmī).  There are three types of productive wealth designated by Shariah:

 

1)    Money
2)    Business stock
3)    Animal livestock for growth

 

And Allah Ta’ālā Alone Knows Best

 

Mufti Faraz Adam al-Mahmudi,

www.darulfiqh.com

[ummtaalib]

Paying Zakat on previously lost jewellery

 

Q. A woman lost her jewellery 20 years ago. Whilst moving houses, she found that very same jewellery which she had lost. Does she now have to pay Zakaat on the lost jewelry for the past 20 years?

 

(Question published as received telephonically)

 

A. In the enquired case, if the woman lost her jewellery 20 years ago and had no hope of finding it, Zakaat on the jewellery was not compulsory upon her for the past 20 years. (Shaami 2/226)

 

However, since she has now found her lost jewellery, Zakaat will be compulsory upon her only for the current year if she is paying zakat.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

 

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

 

Confirmation: 

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

 

(Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh) 

 

Fatwa Department

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)

[ummtaalib]

Can the husband pay Zakat on behalf of his wife?

 

Question:

A couple has a certain amount of gold which is in the custody of the wife. Will she have to pay on her own or can her husband pay on her behalf?

 

 

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatullāhi wa-barakātuh

 

Zakāt is liable on the owner of the gold. The owner is the person who bought it, was gifted it or inherited it.

Therefore, if the wife owns the gold, she is responsible to pay the Zakāt of the gold. However, the husband may pay its Zakāt on her behalf.[1]

And Allah Taʿālā Knows Best

 

Checked and Approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai

 

[1] وَلَوْ تَصَدَّقَ عَنْهُ بِأَمْرِهِ جَازَ وَيَرْجِعُ بِمَا دَفَعَ عِنْدَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَشْتَرِطْ الرُّجُوعَ كَالْأَمْرِ بِقَضَاءِ الدَّيْنِ، وَعِنْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ لَا رُجُوعَ لَهُ إلَّا بِالشَّرْطِ، وَتَمَامُهُ فِي الْخَانِيَّةِ (البحر الرائق (2/ 227))

وَلَا يُؤَدِّي عَنْ زَوْجَتِهِ، وَلَا عَنْ أَوْلَادِهِ الْكِبَارِ، وَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي عِيَالِهِ، وَلَوْ أَدَّى عَنْهُمْ أَوْ عَنْ زَوْجَتِهِ بِغَيْرِ أَمْرِهِمْ أَجْزَأَهُمْ اسْتِحْسَانًا كَذَا فِي الْهِدَايَةِ. وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى كَذَا فِي فَتَاوَى قَاضِي خَانْ. وَلَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ عَنْ غَيْرِ عِيَالِهِ إلَّا بِأَمْرِهِ كَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ. (الفتاوى الهندية، دار الفكر (1/ 193))

 

 

Source

[ummtaalib]

 

Important Zakaat Clarification - What is Hawlaanul Hawl?

 

[ummtaalib]

CAN ZAKAT FUNDS BE USED TO FEED DESERVING RECIPIENTS SUHUR AND IFTAR?

 

Question:

 

I wish to send my zakah to Burma for the extremely poor, persecuted and completely unprotected n defenseless Muslims.

 

Great majority of them do NOT and can NOT fast because they are extremely poor and have no means to afford enough food for Suhoor-Iftaar.  They live on handouts, scavenging and begging.  Can my cousin in Rangoon arrange to prepare S-I out of zakah that I plan to send, to feed them hearty S-I so that they can fast throughout Ramadan?

 

For your information, according to strong evidence, indications and observations for an extended period of time, these Muslims might spend cash handed to them (i.e., zakah) more on sinful things and less on essential food and other basic day to day necessary items.

 

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

 

There is no doubt that our brothers and sisters in Burma are in dire need of assistance and one can assist deserving recipients among them.

 

Keep in mind the principle that deserving recipients of Zakat need to be made owners of the Zakat funds regardless of whether they are paid in money or in-kind.

 

In Suhur and Iftar, this act of making a recipient an owner [tamlik] is not found – meaning that ownership of the food is not transferred to them. Rather, they are merely given permission to partake of this food at the time of suhur and iftar.

In order to use Zakat funds to give food to deserving recipients of Zakat, one can give them food in packets or containers such that it is clear to them (i.e. the recipients) that they are now owners of this food and may do whatever they want with it.

 

Now, whether they eat it immediately or save some or all of it for later, give it to someone else, etc. it is their choice. In this way, it will be permissible to use Zakat funds for this purpose since they will become owners of the food they are given. ^[ii]

 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

 

Mufti Sohail ibn Arif,

Assistant Mufti, Darul Iftaa

Chicago, USA

 

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

 _____________________

ويشترط أن يكون الصرف (تمليكا) لا إباحة كما مر

 (قوله: تمليكا) فلا يكفي فيها الإطعام إلا بطريق التمليك ولو أطعمه عنده ناويا الزكاة لا تكفي

رد المحتار، ٢/ ٣٤٤

 

فتاوى محمودية، ٩/ ٦٠١ - ٦٠٢ [ii] 

[ummtaalib]

Working out one’s zakaat date

Q: When will zakaat be obligatory and how should one work out one's zakaat date?

https://ecp.yusercontent.com/mail?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmuftionline.co.za%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fpictures%2Fbismillah.jpg&t=1613931526&ymreqid=1e76d8aa-a6f0-66f7-1c0d-c20001017e00&sig=a6k5bO4cpjeOijwSBT_f5g--~D

A: When a person acquires wealth (upon which zakaat is compulsory) which equals the nisaab and the wealth remains with him for an entire lunar year from the first day he acquires this wealth, zakaat will be fardh on that wealth.

E.g. Zaid acquired R8 000 (which for example is the nisaab amount) on the first day of the lunar year (1st of Muharram 1434). This wealth remained with him for an entire lunar year. On the 1st of Muharram 1435, zakaat will be fardh upon the wealth.

It should be noted that if the amount decreased during the course of the year e.g. R8 000 decreased to R1 000, but at the end of the zakaat year (1st of Muharram 1435), the amount returned to R8 000 or more, zakaat will be fardh. However, if during the year, all the money was spent and nothing remained, then one's zakaat year will no longer be calculated from the previous time when one had acquired the nisaab. Rather, one will count one lunar year from the next time one acquires the nisaab amount or more. 

(وشرط كمال النصاب) ولو سائمة (في طرفي الحول) في الابتداء للانعقاد وفي الانتهاء للوجوب (فلا يضر نقصانه بينهما) فلو هلك كله بطل الحول

قال العلامة ابن عابدين - رحمه الله -: قوله (وشرط كمال النصاب إلخ) أي ولو حكما لما في البحر والنهر لو كان له غنم للتجارة تساوي نصابا فماتت قبل الحول فدبغ جلودها وتم الحول عليها كان عليه الزكاة إن بلغت نصابا ولو تخمر عصيره الذي للتجارة قبل الحول ثم صار خلا وتم الحول عليه وهو كذلك لا زكاة عليه لأن النصاب في الأول باق لبقاء الجلد لتقومه بخلافه في الثاني وروى ابن سماعة أنه عليه الزكاة في الثاني أيضا قوله (للانعقاد) أي انعقاد السبب أي تحققه بتملك النصاب ط قوله (للوجوب) أي لتحقق الوجوب عليه ط قوله (فلو هلك كله) أي في أثناء الحول بطل الحول حتى لو استفاد فيه غيره استأنف له حولا جديدا وتقدم حكم هلاكه بعد تمام الحول في زكاة الغنم قال في النهر ومنه أي من الهلاك ما لو جعل السائمة علوفة لأن زوال الوصف كزوال العين (رد المحتار 2/302)

ولو هلك كله بطل الحول (حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح صـ 717)

العبرة في الزكاة للحول القمري كذا في القنية (الفتاوى الهندية 1/175)

وإذا كان النصاب كاملا في طرفي الحول فنقصانه فيما بين ذلك لا يسقط الزكاة كذا في الهداية (الفتاوى الهندية 1/175)

(الزكاة واجبة على الحر العاقل البالغ المسلم إذا ملك نصابا ملكا تاما وحال عليه الحول) أما الوجوب فلقوله تعالى: وآتوا الزكاة ولقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أدوا زكاة أموالكم وعليه إجماع الأمة والمراد بالواجب الفرض لأنه لا شبهة فيه (الهداية 1/95)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)