Is it permissible to pay zakah before the completion of the lunar year?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
The questioner says: I used to pay my zakah every Ramadan, but last year I delayed it until Shawwal because I did not have the money available in Ramadan. I want to pay it in Ramadan today, but the lunar year has not yet been completed. Is that permissible for me?
Answer:
Yes, you may pay it. It is permissible to pay zakah early. You mentioned that it became obligatory on you in Ramadan, but you delayed it because you had no money, no dirhams. You are excused for delaying it. However, its obligation is tied to the completion of the lunar year. Since you designated Ramadan as the time for paying your zakah, that becomes the completion of the lunar year for you. Yes. But you delayed it this year because you had no dirhams to pay. This is a valid legal excuse. Yes.
The questioner says: I used to pay my zakah every Ramadan, but last year I delayed it until Shawwal because I did not have the money available in Ramadan. I want to pay it in Ramadan today, but the lunar year has not yet been completed. Is that permissible for me?
Answer:
Yes, you may pay it. It is permissible to pay zakah early. You mentioned that it became obligatory on you in Ramadan, but you delayed it because you had no money, no dirhams. You are excused for delaying it. However, its obligation is tied to the completion of the lunar year. Since you designated Ramadan as the time for paying your zakah, that becomes the completion of the lunar year for you. Yes. But you delayed it this year because you had no dirhams to pay. This is a valid legal excuse. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل يجوز إخراج الزكاة قبل اكتمال الحول؟ للشيخ الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.