The Ruling on the Zakah of Money Saved for Marriage or Building a House

Question:
May Allah reward you with good. The questioner says: If a young man wants to get married or build a house, but he cannot afford the full bridal gift (mahr) until after several years, is he required to pay the zakah on the money he saves each year?

Answer:
Yes, if he has money that has been in his possession for a lunar year (hawl) and it is of the type subject to zakah, such as currency or trade goods, then zakah is obligatory on him, even if he is setting that money aside for his marriage or for building a house to live in. This is because zakah is a right of the poor and the needy, and it is not waived by his intention to use this money for the costs of his marriage, or for building his house, or for something similar. Zakah is obligatory when its conditions are met, including the completion of the lunar year and the money reaching the minimum threshold (nisab) either by itself or by combining it with other money subject to zakah.