I delayed the alms given at the end of Ramadan for myself and my wife, but not for my children, for two years, and our circumstances became tight during those days due to high prices and a small salary that was not sufficient.

The questioner : I paid the alms given at the end of Ramadan for myself and my wife only, but not for my children, for two years, and our circumstances became tight due to the high prices in those days, and the salary was small and did not meet the need, especially if the family is large, consisting of ten members or more. And when Allah opened up for me after two years, I completed paying the alms for that year along with the alms for my children. Is that alms valid? And is it possible for a person to pay this alms whenever he is able to do so, or is it not valid except in its proper time?

The Shaykh : The alms given at the end of Ramadan is obligatory, but its obligation has conditions, one of which is that one must be able to pay it at the time of breaking the fast in Ramadan. As long as you did not find what to pay with for your children at that time you mentioned, then you owe nothing. And your paying it after that is considered voluntary charity and a donation from you, because all obligations are dropped with the inability to fulfill them, as Allah the Exalted said: and His saying: and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): .