The ruling on a woman who has not paid zakah on her jewelry for years out of ignorance

Question : The questioner asks: What is the ruling on owning gold jewelry for several years, when she did not know that zakah was obligatory on it until this year?

Answer : It is not obligatory for her to pay zakah except for this year. For example, if a woman has gold jewelry and did not know that zakah was obligatory on it until this year, then it is not obligatory for her to pay zakah on it except for this year, because she was excused before that. Also, because many scholars in this country hold that there is no zakah on jewelry, she was following what people were doing, and she is excused for that. However, the stronger opinion, which is our view, is that it is obligatory for a woman to pay zakah on her jewelry if it reaches the nisab (minimum threshold for zakah), which is twenty mithqals, equivalent to eleven Saudi riyals and three-sevenths of a riyal. If a woman has jewelry by weight, she is required to pay zakah on it, which is one-tenth of its value at the time zakah becomes obligatory. As for jewelry made of pearls, diamonds, or other metals other than gold and silver, there is no zakah on it if it is not for trade.