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:

i have two questions:  

1. i started my fasting back home in nigeria and have now returned to the uk.this means that if i fast until friday,it will have been 31 days of ramadhan for me.what should i do please?or doesnt it matter since i missed some during my period?

2.i am unmarried and have never had to pay zakat for myself.i need to know the terms of zakat since i dont earn anything and how ican go about it here in the uk

thank you

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Answer:

Fast 31 days

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.

Q-1: i started my fasting back home in nigeria and have now returned to the uk.this means that if i fast until friday,it will have been 31 days of ramadhan for me.what should i do please?or doesnt it matter since i missed some during my period?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:

185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (or witnesses) the month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

If you started your fasts in a place where Ramadan started a day or two earlier than the place you subsequently traveled to, you would have deemed to have witnessed the day of the blessed month of Ramadan and thus you should observe the fast, even if it happens to be your 31^st fast….you will earn the reward of voluntary fasts for your extra day/s of fasting.

Your Question: ….or doesnt it matter since i missed some during my period?

If one has perchance missed some of their obligatory fasts of Ramadan due to travel, sickness, or through menstruation…..indeed it would be lawful to count these extra fasts as atonement for the respective missed number of day/days of fasting.

Thus for example say a believer missed five days of the obligatory fasts of Ramadan, and then subsequently traveled to a place in Ramadan and had to fast one extra day….then one would have to make up only four fasts at the other times of the year.

Q-2: i am unmarried and have never had to pay zakat for myself.i need to know the terms of zakat since i dont earn anything and how ican go about it here in the uk

In principle, ‘zakah’ is to be paid every year on the excess wealth of every believer (man, woman, or child) after it has been in their possession for a period of one calendar year.

If the total nett worth of any believer is more than the prescribed ‘nisaab’ of 7.5 tolas of gold (app. 85 grams or app. Value US$1,000.00), then the person is liable to pay the obligatory zakat of 2.5% on their excess wealth which has been in their possession for a full calendar year.

Except for the house one actually lives in, the vehicle one drives or uses, the furniture and fixtures one uses in their daily lives, the value of everything else one owns will be considered excess assets upon which the annual zakah of 2.5% would be due.

Thus sister, except for the value of the house you (might) own and actually live in, the car you (might) own and use, and the furniture and fixture you use on a daily basis….if you have any other assets which belong to you like jewelry, cash, investments, properties, etc. and have been in your possession for a period of one full calendar year….you would be liable to pay ‘zakah’ annually on the market value of those excess assets at the rate of 2.50%.

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