If a man is undecided between building on the land or trading in it, is its zakah obligatory on him?
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The questioner : Regarding the land, if he is undecided between building on it or trading in it?
The Shaykh : If he is undecided between building on it and trading in it, then he owes nothing.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because he must be determined that it is for trade, since the default ruling is that zakah is not obligatory on lands and real estate until it is established that they are for trade.
The questioner : And if it is for rent?
The Shaykh : If it is for rent, there is no zakah on the property itself.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But there is zakah on its rent if a lunar year of possession has passed over it.
The questioner : And it has reached the minimum threshold for zakah, yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you and reward you.
The Shaykh : If he is undecided between building on it and trading in it, then he owes nothing.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because he must be determined that it is for trade, since the default ruling is that zakah is not obligatory on lands and real estate until it is established that they are for trade.
The questioner : And if it is for rent?
The Shaykh : If it is for rent, there is no zakah on the property itself.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But there is zakah on its rent if a lunar year of possession has passed over it.
The questioner : And it has reached the minimum threshold for zakah, yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you and reward you.