Do I have to pay zakah on Qard Hasana given to an individual?

Q: If an individual lends £2,000 to his relative on the basis of qarḍ ḥasana (gratuitous loan) and the £2,000 is still outstanding. How should the lender treat the outstanding £2,000 for the purposes of zakāh? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: A personal loan is categorized as a ‘strong debt’.[1] […]

Read more...

Do I still have to pay zakah on my frozen pension fund?

Q: Do I still have to pay zakāh on my frozen pension fund? I have a pension which is now frozen where I have selected the funds. The pension is invested in shares. Both myself and my employer had contributed to the pension. The pension has made a profit. Can you please confirm the following: […]

Read more...

Is zakah payable on the value of on account payments for a person who has an Islamic Home Purchase Plans?

Q: Is zakāh payable on the value of on account payments for a person who has an Islamic Home Purchase Plans? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: Ownership of the on account payments, both under the Ijarah home purchase plan and the Diminishing Musharakah home purchase plan, remains vested in the […]

Read more...

For zakat purposes, how might we interpret ‘fi sabeelillah’ in the modern context?

Q: How might we interpret fi sabeelillah in the modern context? Could this include campaigning or advocacy activities – for example, raising awareness about Islamic teachings on poverty issues, dispelling misperceptions about Islam, speaking out on international justice issues etc. الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Whilst the literal meaning of fi sabilillah […]

Read more...

Q: Is the responsibility of Zakat a strictly individual responsibility or can it be joint say in the case of husbands and wives?

Q: Is the responsibility of Zakat a strictly individual responsibility or can it be joint say in the case of husbands and wives?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: Zakat is strictly a personal obligation.  Even in jointly owned wealth the obligation of zakat remains personal.  Thus, if a husband and […]

Read more...

What is the Shari’ah position with regards to zakah on Diminishing Musharaka home purchase plans?

Q: What is the Shari’ah position with regards to zakāh on Diminishing Musharaka home purchase plans? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: Under the Diminishing Musharakah home purchase plan, the client again incurs a debt only to the extent of the outstanding monthly rental payments subsequent to his use of the […]

Read more...

Why does one need to pay Zakat on a pension plan if one does not get access till later?

 Q:  I have recently setup a SI pension plan account where I can manage the investment but the principal and the gains are not available to me till the age of 55. Is the investment value still zakatable in the years leading up to age 55?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: […]

Read more...

Do I have to pay zakah on a loan that won’t be repaid to me?

Q: Do I have to pay zakāh on a loan that won’t be repaid to me? If a lender has lost all hope of recovering his loan how should he treat the outstanding amount for the purposes of zakāh? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: If a lender has lost all […]

Read more...

Do students have to pay zakah on money from a student loan, if they have it in their possession?

Q: Do students have to pay zakāh on money from a student loan, if they have it in their possession? For e.g. a person took out tuition fee loan and maintenance loan (not grant) which roughly comes to about £6000. From that, £3000 is automatically taken by the university i.e. tuition fee which leaves a […]

Read more...

Do I have to pay zakah on money held for a minor?

Q: I gifted my son £1,000 and hold this in an account in my son’s name. However prior to his 18th birthday he is not able to access that money without my consent. In this instance is he liable for zakāh? الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: This would be considered […]

Read more...

Do I need to pay Zakat on my pension each year or when I start receiving it?

Q: Do I need to pay Zakat on my pension each year or when I start receiving it at the age of 55? The pension is two fold. 1) My employer contributes £300 per month towards my chosen pension provider. 2) My annual bonus, rather than paying 40% tax on it, is paid to my […]

Read more...

Is zakat due on an amount of money I only came to possess 11 days before my zakat anniversary?

Q: Is zakat due on an amount of money I only came to possess 11 days before my zakat anniversary, and which is going to be used to buy a house (and therefore not “surplus” wealth)? الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب A: Once one becomes owner of the nisab one’s lunar year commences.  Any […]

Read more...