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 Assalam o alaikum w rahmatullah!!

My question is about Zakat..

brother! We are a joint family that consists of 5 working persons still we have to pay some debt that my brother took to develop his business. My younger brother is also trying to develop his business and for that purpose he has some amount as debt. I m not to pay any debt like this.. in this situation are we to pay Zakat because we are joint family. Debt on a single person means that everyone has the responsibility to pay back.

In case if Zakat is not to be paid What about Sadaqat cos I personally want to give sadaqat

Note: we have a widow sister with six children in our house also advice me to how much and in what category can I spend money on them.

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Answer:

Zakah calculation in joint family

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.

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.

Regardless of whether you live alone or in a joint family, if your net worth is above the prescribed ‘nisaab’, you would be liable to pay zakah on your excess wealth at the rate of 2.50% annually.

If at the end of the year, after paying all your living expenses you have savings of say $20,000.00……you will indeed be liable to pay the annual zakah on that amount at the rate of 2.50% for the current year. The debts your brothers might have taken will not effect the determination and calculations of your zakah.

Your Question: In case if Zakat is not to be paid What about Sadaqat cos I personally want to give sadaqat

It is the obligatory duty of every believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day and is blessed with abundance from their Lord to pay the annual zakah on his net excess wealth at the rate of 2.50% every year.

If in addition to one’s zakah one wishes to pay extra, that will constitute as ‘sadaqah’ in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Your Question: Note: we have a widow sister with six children in our house also advice me to how much and in what category can I spend money on them.

Brothers, sisters, near or far relatives, etc. do not fall under the category of those who are under one’s wards or responsibility….thus if one finds one amongst one’s own kith and kith poor or needy, because of their bond of kinship, these relatives have the biggest right that ‘zakah’ dues are spent on them.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Charity for the poor is rewarded as one good deed; but in the case of a relative it is considered as two: [one reward for helping] blood ties, and [the other reward for] the charity [itself]."

Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and at-Tirmidhi.

If your sister is needy, she has the biggest right that you spend of your zakah and sadaqah dues on her and her children. You are well within your rights to spend your full zakah allocation or as much as you wish on your sister and her children.

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