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:

Assalamualaikum dear brother Burhan,

May Allah shower his blessings upon you for the knowledge you have been sharing with us.

I need to ask some questions regarding payment of Zakat. I know muslims are responsible to pay 2.5% of the income per year as zakat. I'm a married working woman. My parents had given to me 300 gms of gold for my marriage for which i'm responsible to pay zakat. My husband lost his job 6 months back and i am financially supporting him to open a new business.i'm not able to save money to pay zakat for the gold i have because i'm supporting him as well as his family. Please advice at the best of your knowledge what is an option for me. I do not want to die without paying the debt towards Allah.

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Answer:

Payment of zakah

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 Statement: I know muslims are responsible to pay 2.5% of the income per year as zakat.

First and foremost sister, annual ‘zakah’ is applicable on the excess net worth of a believer, not the net annual income.

If the total net worth of any believer (man, woman, or child) is more than the prescribed ‘nisaab’ of 7.5 ‘tolas’ of gold (app. 85 grams or app. Value US$2,500.00), then the person is liable to pay the obligatory annual ‘zakah’ of 2.5% on their excess wealth which has been in their possession for a full calendar year.

If the total net worth of any believer is less than the prescribed ‘nisaab’, he/she is not liable to pay any ‘zakah’ until their net worth exceeds the prescribed ‘nisaab’.

For the purpose of determining ‘zakah’, the ‘Net Excess Assets’ would be the current market value of all of one’s assets (properties, investments, jewelry, cash, etc.) except:

1. the value of the house/s one owns and actually lives in (no zakah)
2. the value of the car/vehicle one uses on a regular basis (no zakah)
3. the value of the furniture and fixtures one uses on a regular basis (no zakah)

Your Question: ….Please advice at the best of your knowledge what is an option for me

Although it is best that one who is blessed with abundance fulfill their zakah obligations every year, if for a genuine reason one is unable to fulfill one’s zakah obligation for the current year, there is allowance in Shariah that the person may fulfill their past zakah obligation when they have the resources.

Thus sister, if your husband has lost his job and you are financing the house or the opening of his new business, and you find it difficult to pay your annual zakah dues for this current year, you should calculate what is due from you as zakah and fulfill it in the coming years when you do have the resources. It is expected that your Lord All-Knowing will accept your worship of ‘zakah’ and not diminish your rewards in the least, Insha Allah.

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