Zakat al-Mal

Dear scholars Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu My question is regarding the nisab of Zakat in Jewellery. As Jewellery is usually not made of pure gold, so in determining the nisab,the actual weight is considered or the amount of pure gold present in it is considered. Please explain in detail. Jazakumullah Khaira

Please tell me if I can pay Zakah on a monthly basis instead of paying once a year in Ramadan. I will divide the total amount into 12 monthly payments. Is that right?

Respected scholars of Islam, as-Salamu `alaykum! I have more than one piece of property that I had purchased some time ago. I would like to know the ruling of Zakah on them. If there is Zakah due on them, then should I give it based on the purchase price or should it be appraised annually, knowing that there is a difficulty in having an annual appraisal?

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. No one can deny the role played by the media in influencing the international public opinion. It is noteworthy that the media in the West are used excessively to cover the brutal US war against Iraq. The media there display the image of the invaders as messengers of peace and great liberators, camouflaging the bloodshed and massacres they commit in Iraq. They have double standards.Here, I wonder if a Muslim can use the money of Zakah due on him to enlighten people concerning the American aggression against the Arab and Muslim world so that we can launch a counter attack against the psychological war initiated by the Western mass media. Also, can Muslims use a portion of Zakah to enlighten the American and Western public opinion about the brutal and savage actions done by their armies against the innocent Muslims and Arabs? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Dear scholars, my question is about Zakah. A man and his wife have the same bank account, and their money reaches the nisab (the minimum sum that is liable to Zakah). For example, in Morocco the sum on which Zakah is due is DH 8,000 for each man or woman. But in this case the man and his wife jointly have only this sum of DH 8,000. They ask you, dear scholar, if they must pay Zakah. Greetings to you. May Allah bless you.

As-Salamu `alaykum. I want to ask about Zakah on the fixed income. Should I pay Zakah on my monthly salary?

Dear scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. I have read many fatwas regarding zakah on women's jewelry. However, I am confused because some prominent scholars say that a woman should give zakah on her jewelry as long as it reaches the nisab, because the proofs to support the contrary opinion are weak. What do you say regarding this? Jazakum Allah khayran.

In the name of Allah. May Allah reward you for your outstanding efforts and make them beneficial enough to please Him. I have a question concerning zakah, specifically about the Qur’anic verse pointing out the recipients of zakah. I noticed that the amount of prescribed zakah is not specified in the Qur’an whereas its recipients are clarified in detail. What is the wisdom behind that? May Allah reward you.

Respected scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. As a Canadian Muslim I pay taxes to the government, which takes up a major portion of my income. It is my understanding that a portion of the taxes thus collected by the government goes to the poor and those who work to collect them. This being the case, can I consider myself as being absolved from the duty of paying zakah? Jazakum Allahu khayran.

As-Salamu `alaykum. I would like to know whether or not unlawful money is subject to Zakah. Jazakum Allah khyran.

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. I'd like to ask you a question about zakah. If a Muslim does not work or do trade, under what conditions must he or she pay zakah? And is it enough if one's parents pay the annual zakah on one's behalf or must the zakah be paid by the individual? Also, I own some collector's coins and notes, some of which still have legal value and can be used as regular cash. Will I have to add these to the amount on which I pay zakah? Jazakum Allah khayran.

My father is in debts. I am working and I have a family to look after. Since I don’t have enough money to pay off his debts, am I allowed to settle the debts from my Zakah funds?

As-Salamu `alaykum. If a Muslim dies before paying Zakah, should it be taken from the estate before distributing it among the heirs? Jazaka Allahu khairan.

Do we have to pay Zakah on stocks and mutual funds that we keep as savings?

As-Salamu `alaykum! I have a question about Zakah on retirement-saving accounts such as 401K or IRA accounts. As you know these are retirement plans that many companies offer to their employees. Sometimes, the employee has to contribute to it to be eligible for any withdrawals or sometimes companies deposit money for their employees. Either case employees are not supposed to take money out of these accounts until he/she retires. My question is: Should I pay Zakah on that money, or it is better to wait until I retire, and get access to it? Jazakum Allah Khayran.

As-Salamu `alaykum! I live in a house, and get rental income from the basement. I recently bought a condominium, and rented it out too. Do I have to pay Zakah on the actual value of the condo as well as both rental incomes, or only on the incomes? Will it be 2.5% of the total rental incomes, or 2.5% of the savings after one year?

As-Salamu `alaykum! Is a husband responsible for paying Zakah on his wife's jewelry that was given to her by her parents at the time of wedding? What if it is difficult for the husband to do so? Also, what constitute everyday jewelry on which you don't have to pay Zakah?

As-salamu `alaykum. Is Zakah to be counted from the beginning of the month of Ramadan or from the end of the month? If the money is being added every month in the bank, is Zakah to be paid on the balance remaining at the next Ramadan, as one year would not have passed on the subsequent deposits in the bank?

Scholars of Islam, As-Salamu `alaykum. Can we give zakah to establish educational institutions in North America, when we do know that the primary objective of zakah is to help the poor and needy?

As-Salaamu `Alaykum wa Rahmatullah. I am a student but I have a part-time job. Is it Fard (obligatory) upon me to pay Zakah? I was told that it is not Fard upon women because while they are unmarried, the head of the family (i.e. the father) pays Zakah on behalf of everyone in the family, and when they are married their husbands pay on their behalf. I was also told that if a woman’s father does not pay any Zakah at all, then she still will not be accountable for it. Is this true? Also is everyone liable to pay Zakat-ul Fitr? If so, how much do we give and in what form (money or food)? Jazakum Allahu Khairan.

As-Salamu `alaykum. Dear scholars, please let me know whether one who owns houses and cars should pay zakah on them or not.

Scholars of Islam, As-Salamu `alaykum. My brother used to work in the Middle East. He was very well-off then. When he came back to Pakistan, he invested the money he saved over there, but unfortunately that was all lost because of business failure. He is now working somewhere but has a very low income to support his family. Some people say that he is not eligible to receive Zakah, due to the fact that he has his own house and all the necessities of life, like a TV, refrigerator, telephone, et cetera, in his home. Keep in mind that all this was bought when he was working in the Middle East. Is he eligible for the Zakah? Should he sell his household things to support his family? Please advise.

As-salamu `alaykum. We are Muslim students living in a small dorm in America, and there is a hired mosque inside it. Is it permissible to give the money of zakah to pay the rent for that mosque, especially because the donations collected from the Muslim students there are not enough? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Dear scholars, as-Salamu `alaykum. I’d like to ask: can I give my Zakah to my husband? Jazakum Allah khayran.

As-Salamu `alaykum! Is Zakah applicable for a person who has some liabilities, as he has to pay money to somebody from whom he has taken a loan?

 Assalamu alaikum.i have some questions about zakat on wealth (not zakat alfitr): basically every year on the last day of ramadan, i calculate all the wealth i have (in cash, stocks, and wife's gold holding) and apply the 2.5% to calculate the zakat.however as i live in belgium, i usually send the money to my dad in lebanon and he distributes to needy relatives (not direct parents or descendents of mine). that means the money is actually payed later than the last day of ramadan when i calculate my zakat. recently i found some articles that say zakat shouldn't be delayed and should be payed on the day it reaches the hawl (1 year).so the questions are: 1- can the day zakat is calculated on be different than the day it's paid?. i remember i read somewhere that i have upto 1 year (before next zakat calculation) to pay it. is this correct?2- if this isn't correct, it's very hard for me to do the calculations all in one day and pay the zakat. reason is that i have to wait until stock market closes to get the exact value of my stocks, also i have to find out the value of gold on that day, and then i have to ask my dad to pay the money from his bank account while i transfer this to him.3-if the value of my stocks went below the nisab during the current year, do i still have to pay zakat on it?4- some of my individual stocks were below the nisab this year, do i calculate the zakat on each individual stock which was above the nisab? or this is not allowed and i should calculate the total worth of the stocks and pay zakat on that?Jazakum Allah khayran. Fadi.

As-Salamu `Alaykum. I have a question about Zakah. If someone lends another one some amount of money for a long time exceeding one year, does the lender (creditor) have to pay Zakah on this money? Thank you very much.

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. If one is helping a needy relative with Zakah money, is it important to inform them that it is Zakah, as some relatives may not accept it out of self respect or pride? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Respected s cholars, as-salamu `alaykum. I would like to explain my situation. I am a student studying in a Western country and I am still living at home. I am studying tourism and have worked for the past few years in restaurants, until just recently. I did not know that serving alcohol and pork is haram. I thought maybe it was makruh, but once I found out it is haram, I stopped working and serving these things and I am repenting to Almighty Allah. It is particularly hard to find a job in restaurants or tourism in this country that does not involve serving these things. Very few restaurants do not serve these things, so I have many questions to ask:First, I had been working in restaurants which serve alcohol and pork for a few years and I managed to save a decent amount of money which I intended to use to get married and things related to that such as a deposit for an apartment. Is it permissible for me to use this money? Should I donate a specific amount of money to cleanse the money? If so, how much of it? If I should donate some money, does it have to be immediately or can I donate it at some time in the future?Second, my father also works in a Western country in the same field and his job involves serving pork and alcohol. Currently, I am in need of my father's support for study fees and help with costs for an apartment and other things. Is it permissible if I accept financial support from my father? Do I have to cleanse this money? If so, how?Third, should I pay zakah from the money which I have saved from previously working in serving alcohol and pork?   Fourth, in this country, and especially in the field of tourism, it is quite hard to find a job without having to serve alcohol or pork. Although there are some, I have been looking for a job for months and cannot find any that do not involve serving these things. Is it permissible to work in serving them temporarily until I find a halal job?JazakumAllahu Khayran

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. This is my first year paying zakah and I want to do it right. I recently got married and according to tradition got lots of jewelry. I think I have more gold in the bank than money. How does it work? Also, I want to know if zakah is applicable to stones like diamonds. And can zakah be paid spread all through the year instead of paying as a lump sum? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. Can organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and CAIR-Canada receive zakah and sadaqah funds? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Dear scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. My question is concerned with gold that was bought for children under 18 years of age and not paying Zakah.If money or anything of value is given to children under the age of eighteen, is it permissible for parents to use or sell such items? Jazakum Allah khayran.

As-Salamu `Alaykum. Am I allowed to pay next year's Zakah in advance, meaning with this year's Zakah? Can Zakah be given in installments throughout the year, and what happens if the person dies before paying all the installments?

Dear Sheikh, thank you very much for your interesting site. Could you please tell me about the significance of Zakah and charity (sadaqah) in Islam. How do these two things represent a form of showing gratitude to Allah?

What is the ruling on taking the zakah incumbent on the property of the Muslims residing in Western countries and sending it abroad, in view of the need of the Muslims and their institutions in the Western countries, and the lack of sufficiency in developing countries?

If a married woman posseses jewellery which is subject to a payment of Zakah, is it then the husband's duty to pay it or is it the obligation of the woman?

Dear Imam, I have a question on Zakah. Can I pay my Zakah via an Internet web site?

As-Salamu `alaykum. Are we allowed to help our relatives with the Zakah money? Do we have to inform them if we help them with the Zakah? Some relatives feel embarrassed to receive Zakah charity and we also feel shy to tell them that we are helping them with Zakah.

Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. In advance, I'd like to say Jazakaum Allahu khairan for this great service, and may you have a happy and blessed Ramadan. My question is regarding paying zakah during the month of Ramadan. Is this obligatory?thanks!

As-salamu `alaykum. I've recently converted to Islam and I'd like to know about zakah: When to give it, how much to give, and any conditions of the charity given. Jazakum Allahu khayran.

Can you furnish me with a fatwa regarding the difference between zakat al-fitr and zakat al-mal? Your earliest response will be very much appreciated. Jazakum Allah khayran.