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:

Dear Brother Burhan

Assalam o allaikum

Here in this question u have mention that v have to pay zakaat on rental basis but another email i got form u that it has mention it has to be calculate the present flat value of that property i am really confused please clarify this as i my question is i have given house for rent and i am staying abroad now i have to give zakaat on rent or my house present value please clarify this, hope for your earliest reply, Jazak allah khair.

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Answer:

Zakah of property rented

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.

The rent one receives (or does not receive) from one’s property is absolutely immaterial when determining the annual ‘zakah’; for ‘zakah’ is based on the net excess assets of each believer, not on one’s annual income.

If one has a property whose current worth is say 100,000.00. Regardless of the annual rent one receives (or doesn’t receive) from this property, one would be liable to pay ‘zakah’ on the market value of the property at the end of each calendar year 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