Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Thanx for the material it was very informative but i still have one question ,its written that whatever extra we hav is zakaatable but who decides what is extra..For example..asif gets approx 3000pounds per month as salary ,,ok now in the moths when we hav to give exams kharcha is more coz exam fees goes off registration fees goes off and sometimes there is no kharcha other than the usual khaana peena..ok now he has 10,000/ pounds in his account here from june 2005 to june 2006 and another 2,500/pounds in india and my jwellery.no land or any other wealth but he plans to invest some money in properties in india later in about a month or two say about 8000/pounds so what is the situation of zakaat on that money and suppose we calculate our zakaat now what about the amount on the salary for next month...Sorry for irritating u but im slightly confused over this whatever is in use statement

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Answer:

Zakah clarifications

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: i still have one question ,its written that whatever extra we hav is zakaatable but who decides what is extra..

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 215:

215 They ask thee (O Prophet (saws) what they should spend (in charity, sadaqa, zakah, etc.)? Say: ‘Whatever ye spend that is good is for parents, and kindred, and orphans, and those in want, and for wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is good, Allah Knoweth it well.

Beloved brother in Islam, just as today most nations appoint ‘tax-collectors’ who evaluate one’s tax-returns; in a proper Islamic State, the State would appoint ‘zakah-collectors’ and they would help determine the value of one’s excess wealth over which ‘zakah’ would be due.

But in the absence of a proper Islamic State, the responsibility for determining one’s excess wealth over which their ‘zakah’ is due to Allah Subhanah is entirely upon each individual.

Under normal circumstances, the house one lives in, the vehicle one uses, and the annual expenses one occurs for oneself and one’s family are all exempt from ‘zakah’. If after all the annual expenses, one still has excess cash in the bank, and/or one has investments in property or assets (other than the house one actually lives in), etc., and/or possesses valuables like jewelry, etc.….and this excess wealth has been in their possession for a full calendar year, one would determine the market value of all of these ‘excess’ assets and pay their ‘zakah’ dues accordingly.

Your Question: For example..asif gets approx 3000pounds per month as salary ,,ok now in the moths when we hav to give exams kharcha is more coz exam fees goes off registration fees goes off and sometimes there is no kharcha other than the usual khaana peena..ok now he has 10,000/ pounds in his account here from june 2005 to june 2006 and another 2,500/pounds in india and my jwellery.no land or any other wealth but he plans to invest some money in properties in india later in about a month or two say about 8000/pounds so what is the situation of zakaat on that money

To summarize the conclusion:

1. Brother x earns 3,000 pounds salary per month: this is absolutely immaterial for ‘zakah purposes.
2. After paying all his expenses, he has 10,000 pounds cash which have been in his possession for a period of one calendar year.
3. In addition to the cash, he has 2,500 pounds in cash and jewelry; the place where one has his assets is immaterial for zakah purposes.

So Brother ‘x’ has 10,000+2,500 = 12,500.00 pounds as excess wealth which has been in his possession for a period of one calendar year, thus the brother will be liable to pay 2.5% of 12,500 or 312.50 as zakah for that calendar year.

If the brother invests 8,000 pounds in the next calendar year to buy a property he is going to stay in as his residence; then assuming no more money is saved, the excess wealth of the brother for the following year will be 12,500 – 8,000 = 4,500.00, and he will be liable to pay 2.5% on only 4,500.00 or 112.50 pounds as zakah for the following year.

But if the brother invests 8,000 pounds to buy a property as an investment and not to stay in it himself, that will constitute a part of his ‘excess’ wealth. Thus assuming no more money is saved the following year, the list of the brothers assets would read:

8,000.00 pounds on his investment property

2,000.00 pounds cash (he had 10,000 cash and spent 8,000 to invest in property)

12,500.00 would be his total excess wealth upon which 2.5% zakah would be due the following year.

Your Question: and suppose we calculate our zakaat now what about the amount on the salary for next month

The monthly or annual salary or the annual expenses of the brother have absolutely no material effect on one’s annual zakah calculations, for the zakah is not determined by or upon one’s income, but what one has been able to save on an annual basis. It is only the ‘excess’ wealth which one has been able to save in cash, property, jewelry, assets, etc. and which have been in one’s possession for a period of one full calendar year which is liable for zakah.

...Sorry for irritating u but im slightly confused over this whatever is in use statement

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, never ever apologize or hesitate for asking a question or seeking a clarification in the deen of Islam. Asking any type of questions in Islam to gain more knowledge, or to confirm the Truth so that one’s heart is more content, or to understand and thus follow with more conviction the dictates of the deen is not only permissible, but absolutely encouraged in Islam. It is the right of the brother or sister to ask anything they wish to clarify in the deen; and it is the responsibility and duty of the good scholars to address the question asked, to the best of their knowledge and ability, and in the most polite and humble manner.

What is discouraged in Islam is if one asks questions for the sake of asking, or arguing to ridicule the Truth with absolutely no intention of obeying or following when the Truth is made clear to them, etc. But if one asks questions to clarify and seek knowledge so that one may better follow the deen; such seeking of the Knowledge of Truth is absolutely encouraged in Islam.

Beloved brother, if you need any further clarification on this very important pillar of Islam, please do not hesitate to write back to us….we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity to serve in the Cause.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan