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 And Ramadan Mubarak !

As part of question 4497- you had answered that 2.5% zakath is due on Diamonds and stones. On this subject -what if these items were your stock in trade and some of them were on credit and some paid for.

Also you said Zakath has to be paid even if you have to sell a property to pay it. So is there a time limit or can it be paid along with another years zakath when cash is available.

May Allah give us the right conduct !

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Answer:

Delay 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 Question: -what if these items were your stock in trade and some of them were on credit and some paid for.

The zakah dues are only payable on one’s nett excess wealth; thus if one has some goods as stock in trade as assets, and some of those goods are on credit and thus unpaid for (liabilities)….then one would subtract the total assets from one’s liabilities and pay the zakah only on what is actually owned.

For example, if the value of one’s total ‘stock in trade’ is $1,000.00, and of that ‘stock in trade’ goods worth $200.00 are accounts payable or liabilities; then one would only pay zakah on the $800.00 worth of ‘stock in trade’ which is actually owned by them.

Your Question: Also you said Zakath has to be paid even if you have to sell a property to pay it. So is there a time limit or can it be paid along with another years zakath when cash is available.

The obligatory annual ‘zakah’ dues is the right Allah Subhanah has ordained in the wealth of the rich for the poor and indigent believers in a society; and it is best fulfilled annually when it is due.

But if one has some property or wealth and does not have the cash to pay its 2.5% zakah….and he is unable to sell a part of the property to enable him to pay his zakah, to if he were to make a ‘distress’ sale immediately he would stand to lose a substantial amount, etc…..if one has an absolutely genuine reason, then the scholars are of the opinion that there is no harm if one delays the payment of their annual zakah and at the very first instance when they do have the necessary cash, they then must pay their accumulated unpaid zakah dues for the missed number of years for that property.

But because none cannot guarantee how long one will live, it would be best to arrange to pay one’s zakah dues annually when they are due rather than delay its payment….lest death should overtake them and they were to meet their Lord Most Majestic in a state where they have not paid their obligatory zakah dues.

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