A man died in Ramadan and left behind money. Is zakat to be paid from his estate?

Question : Honorable Shaykh, may Allah reward you. The questioner says: A man passed away in Ramadan and left a sum of money. Is it obligatory to pay zakat on the remaining amount that has not yet been distributed to the heirs?

Answer : If this deceased man was accustomed to paying his zakat at the beginning of Ramadan, and he died after the time for paying it had passed, then it is obligatory to pay the zakat from his estate before the inheritance is distributed and before any bequest is carried out, because zakat is a debt. However, if he was accustomed to paying zakat only at the end of Ramadan, then it is not obligatory to pay zakat from his estate, because the lunar year of possession had not completed for him. The money passes to the heirs, and a new lunar year begins for each heir’s share.