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:

Salam ali kum

I am unmarried female working from past 4 years, I had savings to the amount of 1,50, 000 from my monthly salary which I have saved for my marriage as my father cannot afford it.  This month in September I brought a site by paying advance 1,00000 for the remaining amount of the site I should apply for loan.  Now at present, I have 50,000 + 10,000 (monthly salary)= 60,000 Rs. in cash.  Please do tell me on what basis I should give zakath and how much, for 1,50,000 or for 60,000. I am very confused.

Do I have to give zakath on whatever amount I have at present or what I had one year before ramdan.

I will be very great full to you.

please remember in dua.

Jazakallahu Khairun.

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Answer:

Zakah calculation

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.

Every believer, regardless of whether man, woman, or child, who has excess wealth of their own, is liable to pay a 2.5% zakat of their nett excess wealth in Shariah.

Zakat is not determined from one’s earnings, but rather on one’s net excess wealth which is left over after paying all their expenses, and it has been in their possession for a period of one calendar year. There is no zakah liable on the house one lives in, or the furniture and fixture one uses in their house, or the car one drives, etc. But if one has property which one has bought as an investment, or spare vehicles other the one one drives, or jewelry, or any other excess asset…then zakah would be liable on these excess wealth and property.

Any asset, or wealth, or cash, or savings, which are left over after all of one’s expenses are paid, and that excess savings and wealth has been in their possession for one full calendar year is liable for payment of annual ‘zakat’ at 2.5% of its value.

Thus sister, assuming that you have no other personal assets like house or property (other than the one you live in), or jewelry, etc.; and your total current nett assets are:

50,000.00 your savings

10,000.00 your current salary for the month

100,000.00 the amount you have paid for a site

Then sister, provided the 100,000.00 amount which you paid as a down-payment for the site, and your savings of 50,000.00 have been in your possession for a period of one calendar year, then your zakah will be 2.50% of 150,000.00.

The 10,000.00 is your monthly salary which we assume you received only this month and has thus obviously not been in your possession for a calendar year…thus there is no zakah liable on this amount of 10,000.00.

Thus regardless of whether you have the 150,000.00 cash, or you have invested a part of that savings to buy a site….if that amount value (whether in cash or in assets) has been in your possession for a period of one calendar year; it would be your excess nett wealth and thus you would be liable to pay your annual zakah on that full amount of 150,000.00.

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