From my Zakat amount, may I deduct rent for upcoming months that is due now or that is imminently due?

Q: From my Zakat amount, may I deduct rent for upcoming months that is due now or that is imminently due?

  1. Ones Zakat anniversary is today. He is due to pay his rent for the upcoming 3 months(Sept-Nov) in around 20 days. Demand for payment (the letter) will come in about 10 days. Can this amount be deducted from his Zakat liability?
  2. Ones Zakat anniversary is today, the demand for his rent payment for the upcoming 3 months has been made already, but one will be making the payment in 10 days time (after his Zakat anniversary). Can this amount be deducted?

 

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب

A: One cannot deduct rent that will fall due in the future but one can deduct rent that has already fallen due.  In the latter case this is the same whether the rental period has passed and one is paying retrospectively or whether the rental period is yet to pass but one has agreed to pay in advance.  Thus, the answers are as follows:

  1. No.
  2. Yes.

 

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