Calculating Zakah Using the Lunar Calendar
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Fatwa No. ( 19665 )
Q:Is the lunar year (hawl) for the zakah of wealth and trade goods calculated based on the lunar Hijri year or the solar Gregorian year?, given that there is a difference of approximately (11) days per year between the two calendars, and if
calculating zakah is obligatory based on the Hijri calendar, what is the solution for institutions that issue their budgets based on the Gregorian calendar and pay zakah based on that? And is it permissible to delay paying the zakah of trade goods beyond the lunar year? Many contracting institutions delay the issuance of their budget by more than six months after the lunar year has passed.
A: Zakah becomes obligatory on wealth when twelve lunar months have passed over it; for Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:189], and it is not permissible to delay its payment beyond this time except for a valid religious excuse that prevents one from paying it; for He the Exalted said: [Al-An'am 6:141], and He the Exalted said: , and the command implies immediacy. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q:Is the lunar year (hawl) for the zakah of wealth and trade goods calculated based on the lunar Hijri year or the solar Gregorian year?, given that there is a difference of approximately (11) days per year between the two calendars, and if
calculating zakah is obligatory based on the Hijri calendar, what is the solution for institutions that issue their budgets based on the Gregorian calendar and pay zakah based on that? And is it permissible to delay paying the zakah of trade goods beyond the lunar year? Many contracting institutions delay the issuance of their budget by more than six months after the lunar year has passed.
A: Zakah becomes obligatory on wealth when twelve lunar months have passed over it; for Allah the Exalted said:
They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj."
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّgive its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest
وَآتُوا حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِAnd establish prayer and give zakah
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.