Is Zakat due on inheritance that is not received until a few years have passed?

Q: A man passes away leaving a wife and three children. The process of sorting out his estate takes 2-3 years in which time the family does not know exactly how much has been left behind and therefore they don’t know how much the are entitled to. Eventually the funds are received by the respective […]

Read more...

I am getting a university grant, and a scholarship, should zakat be paid on this? if so, when should I pay it?

Q: I am getting a university grant, and a scholarship, should zakat be paid on this? if so, when should I pay it? i.e. pay today and then wait for one Islamic calendar to pass by then pay again?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: If you are liable for zakat […]

Read more...

Is Zakah liable on the employee/employer contributions of a Final Salary Pension Scheme?

Q: Is Zakah liable on the employee/employer contributions of a Final Salary Pension Scheme?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب   A: Zakah is not liable on the pension contributions as it constitutes a weak debt.  (see: http://213.175.220.56/~alqalamo/wp-content/uploads/Categories-of-Debts-and-Bad-Debts-for-the-Purposes-of-Zakah.pdf) However, if and when the pension is received it will be added to ones Zakatable assets if, […]

Read more...

I have ceased trading temporarily due to education, however will resume upon completion, do I have to pay Zakah on the remaining stock even though I am not going to be selling it soon?

Q: I have ceased trading temporarily due to education, however will resume upon completion, do I have to pay Zakah on the remaining stock even though I am not going to be selling it soon?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب A: As long as the items are intended to be sold, whether immediately or at […]

Read more...

As a foreign student in the UK, my government estimates living expenses and deposits the money in my account, is this liable for Zakah even though it’s living expenses?

Q: As a foreign student in the UK, my government estimates living expenses and deposits the money in my account, is this liable for Zakah even though it’s living expenses?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب A: If the ownership of the deposited amount has transferred to you and it is above the Nisab then you […]

Read more...

Do I have to pay Zakah on a personal loan I have lent to my brothers?

Q: Do I have to pay Zakah on a personal loan I have lent to my brothers?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومنه الصدق والصواب A: A personal loan is a strong debt upon which Zakah remains payable for the duration of the loan even before one recovers possession of the same.  Thus, you will have to pay […]

Read more...

Is there a difference of opinion amongst jurists regarding ‘payment in kind’ for Zakah?

Q: Is there a difference of opinion amongst jurists regarding ‘payment in kind’ for Zakah?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: There is a difference amongst jurists as to whether Zakah has to be given from the same wealth for which it is liable.  E.g., if Zakah is payable on wheat then whether wheat […]

Read more...

If I have added 12 months student loan repayments to my Zakāh liabilities, but later in the year become unemployed and repayment is delayed, what do I need to do?

Q: If I have added 12 months student loan repayments to my Zakāh liabilities, but later in the year become unemployed and repayment is delayed, what do I need to do?   الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب A: If one is in employment on one’s Zakah anniversary and one is also required repay some of […]

Read more...

How can I make up for Zakah I didn’t realise I had to pay?

Q: How can I make up for Zakah I didn’t realized I had to pay? My assets have been eligible for Zakah since I joined full time employment and I have been paying Zakah since then; however I have only just realised that I should have also being paying Zakah on my pension, but have […]

Read more...

If I have a pension, which I don’t know any details about, do I pay zakah on the contributions and is it considered haram?

Q: If I have a pension, which I don’t know any details about, do I pay zakāh on the contributions and is it considered haram? I work for a big company and when I started in Feb 2009 the company inserted me on a default pension scheme. This would be 3% of my contribution and […]

Read more...

Is zakah necessary on child benefit payments?

Q: Is zakāh necessary on child benefit payments? I wanted to know who is considered the owner of the child benefit given by the government. Is it the child or the mother? I believe that if it is the mother then zakāh will be compulsory. الجواب حامدًا و مصليًا و منه الصدق و الصواب A: […]

Read more...