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 Aleikum Brother,

Brother, we are building a house back home and we have taken a loan from a Islamic Bank and still we are settling the loan and also we are short of some money for the same purpose (towards the completion of the house).   Also brother we have one more bare land back home. But right now due to our loan and expenditure in this country we are going through a bad time.   Most probably we might sell our bare land to complete the construction of said house.  But still we havent done so.  I would like to know how do we give zakat in such situations.  Please advise.

Jazakallah.

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Answer:

Zakah determination

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.

Respected sister in Islam, if the house you are building is for your own use and stay, regardless of the value of the plot or the house, there is no ‘zakah’ payable on that house…..for the house one actually lives in is exempt from annual ‘zakah’ in Shariah.

But you would indeed be liable to pay the annual ‘zakah’ on the other plot that you own, provided the plot of land has been in your possession for a period of one full calendar year.

If your finances are genuinely strained at the moment for any reason, there is absolutely no harm if you delay the ‘zakah’ payments until you have the funds to pay the ‘zakah’. The amount that is due would remain a debt unto your Lord until it is fulfilled.

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