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:

Assalamu Alaikum

Dear Brother

I want to ask you about Zakat in Islam.

 I got my service benefits in year 2004.  Still I have the same money in the bank.

I do not invest the money yet.  I paid once Zakat for that amount.  Now still

the remaining amount is in the bank.  One of my friend is saying that I have to

pay every year zakat.  So is it necessary to pay every year zakat.

Please clear my doubts in the light of Quran and Sunnath.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Zakah to be paid annually

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.

Beloved brother, your friend is indeed right for ‘zakah’ is an annual obligation upon every believer who possesses wealth above the prescribed ‘nisaab’ and has been in their possession for a period of one full calendar year. One would indeed be liable to pay the obligatory zakah at the rate of 2.5% of their net excess wealth every year.

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