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 would like to know whether Zakat has to given only where a person resides like me and my family in germany. Should we make the zakat only in germany or can we ask our family residing over there in India to pay on our behalf? OR can we make the zakat after 3 months when are back to India?

how should we calculate the exact zakat and fitra?

please reply back at the earliest.

Allah hafiz.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Where to fulfill 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 Qeustion: I would like to know whether Zakat has to given only where a person resides

There is absolutely no such restriction or obligation in Shariah that one must pay their ‘zakah’ dues in the place or state they reside….one is at absolute liberty to spend of their obligatory ‘zakah’ dues wherever it is easy or convenient for them.

Your Question: Should we make the zakat only in germany or can we ask our family residing over there in India to pay on our behalf? OR can we make the zakat after 3 months when are back to India?

Respected brother, you are at absolutely liberty to spend your ‘zakah’ dues in the place you reside, if you wish to do so; or send the dues to your contact overseas and instruct them to distribute your ‘zakah’; or if you so wish, you may delay the distribution of your ‘zakah’ dues for a short period to enable you to distribute it yourself. All of the above listed three options are absolutely lawful and permissible.

Your Question: how should we calculate the exact zakat and fitra?

Ref: Determination of ‘fitra’ or more accurately ‘zakat-ul-fitr’

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.579

Allah's Messenger (saws) enjoined the payment of one Sa' of dates or one Sa' of barley as ‘Zakat-ul-Fitr’ on every Muslim, slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he (saws) ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the EId-ul-Fitr’ prayer.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim relate that: "The Prophet (saws) enjoined the payment of one sa' of dates or one sa' of barley as ‘zakat ul-fitr’ on every Muslim, young and old, male and female, free and slave."

Al-Baihaqi and ad-Daraqutni relate: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) enjoined the ‘zakat ul-fitr’, and also said: 'Free them (the poor) from want on this day.'"

If is preferable (and some scholars say mandatory) to give the zakat-ul-fitr as food to the poor and needy believers of the society. But if one is not able to personally give out the food as ‘zakat-ul-fitr’, it is permissible to give the equivalent amount to an organization who collects the ‘zakat-ul-fitr’; and they in turn will purchase the food on your behalf and give it to the poor and needy believers.

One Saa' is equal to four (4) Mudd, and one (1) Mudd is equal to the amount held by cupping the two hands together. It is a measure by volume not by weight. The amount would obviously differ if we compare the value of one saa' of dates to one saa' of barley, for example: a saa' of barley is approximately $2.00, while a saa' of dates ranges -according to quality from $1.50 - $60.00!; the majority of the scholars in Islam are of the opinion that the minimum amount per person as ‘zakat-ul-fitr’ in this day and age is about $2.50.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah 3.87a

‘Zakat ul-fitr’ was made obligatory in the month of Sha'ban in the second year of the Hijrah by the Messenger of Allah (saws). Its purpose is to purify one who fasts from any indecent act, or speech, and to help the poor and needy. This view is based upon the hadith reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and ad-Daraqutni from Ibn 'Abbas. The Messenger of Allah (saws) enjoined ,zakat ul-fitr, on the one who fasts to shield one's self from any indecent act or speech and for the purpose of providing food for the needy. It is accepted as zakah, for the person who pays it before the Eid ‘salah’, and it is ‘sadaqah’ for the one who pays it after the ‘salah’.

Ref: Determination of annual ‘zakah’

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$2,100.00), 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 one owns and actually lives in
2. the value of the car/vehicle one uses on a regular basis
3. the value of the furniture and fixtures one uses on a regular basis.

Thus ‘zakah’ is determined as 2.50% of one’s ‘net excess assets’: ie. One’s total assets, less one’s liabilities, less the value of one’s house, less the value of one’s car, less the value of one’s furniture and fixtures.

For example say:

1. one’s total assets (properties, investments, jewelry, cash, etc.) is valued at $50,000.00.
2. one has a debt or liability of $5,000.00
3. The house one owns and lives in is worth $10,000.00.
4. The car one drives on a regular basis is worth $2,000.00.
5. The furniture and fixture one uses on a regular basis is worth $500.00.

Thus the ‘net excess wealth’ of this person will be (50,000 – 5,000 – 10,000 – 2,000 – 500) $32,500 and his ‘zakah’ for the current year will be 2.50% or $812.50.

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