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:

Assalaam-o-Alaikum.

I have been reading your informative material on various issues. a series of hadiths that i have been receiving on daily basis for the last couple of months have really attracted me a lot. You are doing a wonderful act of kindness for your muslim brothers and sisters.

I have a question.

In the month of Ramadan it is every muslims obligation to pay zakah. A person who has to pay a certain amount as zakah but don’t have enough amount to pay. And If the person who is truely willing to pay off the whole liability manages only to pay a partial amount and makes himself committed to pay the rest after when he finds himself capable enough. It might take some time may be three months, six months or a year or may be he would feel comfortable to pay with the next years zakah.

Is it possible in that way or their are some other suggestions you may give. Please reply.

(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:

Pay zakah in installments

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.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Statement: In the month of Ramadan it is every muslims obligation to pay zakah.

The believers are obligated to fulfill their annual ‘zakah’ dues at any time of the year, not necessarily in the blessed month of Ramadan. Because the Lord Most Merciful multiplies each good deed done in the blessed month of Ramadan, the majority of the believers tend to calculate/distribute their ‘zakah’ obligations in this blessed month.

Your Question: …..Is it possible in that way or their are some other suggesstions you may give.

It is absolutely permissible for the believers to pay their annual zakah dues in one lump sum at the end of the calendar year, or in any form of installments spread over the year as they wish; provided their zakah dues are fulfilled in that one calendar year.

If one is so strained that even after one’s best striving one is unable to pay a part of this years ‘zakah’ in this calendar year, the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that there is no harm if one fulfills the unpaid balance in the coming year….it is expected that their Lord Most Gracious will accept their piety and will not diminish their due rewards in the least, Insha Allah.

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