Paying Zakah at the Time It Becomes Obligatory
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 16415 )
Q2: I have a shop which I opened on 11/4. After the completion of the lunar year, i.e., on the evening of 11/4, I conduct an inventory after the 'Isha' prayer, including what is in the shop, the warehouses, and the liquidity I have or in the bank. After calculating the amount of Zakah, I set it aside and do not deal with it, even if I am forced to borrow. In the month of Ramadan, I pay it out. Regarding the payment, I take food items from my shop at the selling price and distribute them as provisions to the poor or to the charitable association in Ha'il. However, some people say: It is necessary to pay it at the time it becomes obligatory, but I do not know the eligible recipients, who are not numerous except in Ramadan, and likewise the charitable associations do not accept it except in Ramadan. So, is there a sin on me for that or not?
A2: It is obligatory to pay Zakah at the time it becomes obligatory, which is the completion of the lunar year on the Zakah-eligible wealth. It is not permissible to delay it. It must be paid to the poor or to a trustworthy person who distributes it to them on your behalf. It is not sufficient to pay it to a charitable association unless it is trustworthy and has committed to delivering it to
the eligible recipients. The original ruling for the Zakah of money and goods – which are commercial commodities – is that it is paid out in money. It is not permissible to pay it out in goods such as rice and the like, unless that is for a stronger benefit, such as it being more beneficial for the poor, in which case it is permissible according to the correct view. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q2: I have a shop which I opened on 11/4. After the completion of the lunar year, i.e., on the evening of 11/4, I conduct an inventory after the 'Isha' prayer, including what is in the shop, the warehouses, and the liquidity I have or in the bank. After calculating the amount of Zakah, I set it aside and do not deal with it, even if I am forced to borrow. In the month of Ramadan, I pay it out. Regarding the payment, I take food items from my shop at the selling price and distribute them as provisions to the poor or to the charitable association in Ha'il. However, some people say: It is necessary to pay it at the time it becomes obligatory, but I do not know the eligible recipients, who are not numerous except in Ramadan, and likewise the charitable associations do not accept it except in Ramadan. So, is there a sin on me for that or not?
A2: It is obligatory to pay Zakah at the time it becomes obligatory, which is the completion of the lunar year on the Zakah-eligible wealth. It is not permissible to delay it. It must be paid to the poor or to a trustworthy person who distributes it to them on your behalf. It is not sufficient to pay it to a charitable association unless it is trustworthy and has committed to delivering it to
the eligible recipients. The original ruling for the Zakah of money and goods – which are commercial commodities – is that it is paid out in money. It is not permissible to pay it out in goods such as rice and the like, unless that is for a stronger benefit, such as it being more beneficial for the poor, in which case it is permissible according to the correct view. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.