Is zakah obligatory on land taken from the state, knowing that he does not intend to build a residence on it? May Allah reward you with good.
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The questioner : The second question: May Allah preserve you, O honorable Shaykh. Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Is zakah obligatory on land granted by the state, knowing that he does not intend to build a residence on it? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory for him to pay zakah on it, because the man is not a land trader. He kept it, saying: “If I need it, I will sell it; otherwise, it will remain.” Or he may be hesitating whether to trade in it or keep it to build a structure on it, or something similar. The point is that zakah is not obligatory on this. Likewise, if a person buys land for trade, and during the lunar year he decides to build a structure on it, there is no zakah on it. Similarly, if he buys land to build on it, and then he is pleased with it and offers it for sale to buy another piece of land, there is no zakah on him. Zakah on land is only obligatory on those who trade in land, the real estate owners. Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory for him to pay zakah on it, because the man is not a land trader. He kept it, saying: “If I need it, I will sell it; otherwise, it will remain.” Or he may be hesitating whether to trade in it or keep it to build a structure on it, or something similar. The point is that zakah is not obligatory on this. Likewise, if a person buys land for trade, and during the lunar year he decides to build a structure on it, there is no zakah on it. Similarly, if he buys land to build on it, and then he is pleased with it and offers it for sale to buy another piece of land, there is no zakah on him. Zakah on land is only obligatory on those who trade in land, the real estate owners. Yes.