How is zakah paid when there are many thresholds and the lunar year has passed for the first threshold?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Professor, regarding the lunar year for zakah, you said: until the year passes. So if money comes to us before that, we used to pay the zakah in Ramadan... and we received two or three thousand in Sha'ban, and I want to pay them during the festival. Is it obligatory for me to pay their zakah in Ramadan?
The Shaykh : The scholars have two opinions on this issue.
The questioner: Yes ... .
The Shaykh : If you are going to say that there are two opinions, why did I go silent?
The questioner: Go ahead.
The Shaykh : Why are you in such a hurry? ... An hour or two ago?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : The first opinion is that every threshold has its own calculation; whenever a threshold accumulates for someone, he dates it. This threshold started as number one on such-and-such a date, and after that threshold was completed, a second threshold began, so he dates that one too. Thus, every threshold has a date; this is one opinion. The second opinion is that merely when one threshold accumulates for the person obligated, any money that joins it thereafter is added to this threshold, and in the end, he pays out on the total amount of money he has; this is the second opinion, and it is the only one that is practically feasible. As for the first opinion, it is closer to the situation of merchants who have wealth and abundance; they would have to deal with hundreds of thresholds, and it would make their heads spin. And Islam was not established except on the basis of:[Al-Baqarah 2:185].
The Shaykh : In summary: We choose to pay zakah on the total of the thresholds based on the passing of the lunar year for the first threshold only, even if the year has not passed for the remaining thresholds; because they are attached to this threshold. And if a person adopts the second opinion, we do not dispute with him or argue with him, but when he deals with the matter practically, he will find that it is not feasible to implement. And Islam is practical, not theoretical. This is our answer...
The questioner : ... We expanded too much. We said: if we received more than the first threshold, and we received ten thousand pounds in Sha'ban, and Ramadan passed, and we want to spend it in— for example— a sack, do we know where to spend it, Professor? Is it obligatory for us to pay the zakah, in an easy way without difficulty?
The Shaykh : I gave you the answer; if you choose the second opinion, then, if Allah wills, you pay on the entire amount. What concerns us? We told you an hour ago to combine the thresholds with each other; because this...
The questioner : Is safer.
The Shaykh : Not safer, easier.
The questioner : Easier.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The Shaykh : So if you feel that you do not have many consecutive thresholds, and you paid on each threshold separately; there is no objection against you; because this is the original rule.
Another questioner : Regarding the topic...
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : ... that the hadith... of the obligation of zakah...
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : And your current statement indicates that there is zakah... it indicates that there is zakah on trade...
Another questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, I did not say that. I said: whoever accumulates wealth, zakah is obligatory on it. I did not mention trade in goods.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ... If you ask about trade in goods, ask about it, ask about it as a specific question. As for me, I did not mention trade, I mentioned that merchants accumulate thresholds for them. Otherwise, there are no trade goods. This is regarding currency; a threshold accumulates for him, then a threshold, then a threshold, and it becomes difficult for him. But you are coming with your mind, with your thought, asking about trade in goods, so you have the right to ask about it and hear the answer.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Not just now.
The questioner : The question is on the topic.
The Shaykh : But not just now.
The questioner : In turn.
The Shaykh: Yes.
Another questioner : A question on the topic.
The Shaykh: Go ahead.
The Shaykh : The scholars have two opinions on this issue.
The questioner: Yes ... .
The Shaykh : If you are going to say that there are two opinions, why did I go silent?
The questioner: Go ahead.
The Shaykh : Why are you in such a hurry? ... An hour or two ago?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : The first opinion is that every threshold has its own calculation; whenever a threshold accumulates for someone, he dates it. This threshold started as number one on such-and-such a date, and after that threshold was completed, a second threshold began, so he dates that one too. Thus, every threshold has a date; this is one opinion. The second opinion is that merely when one threshold accumulates for the person obligated, any money that joins it thereafter is added to this threshold, and in the end, he pays out on the total amount of money he has; this is the second opinion, and it is the only one that is practically feasible. As for the first opinion, it is closer to the situation of merchants who have wealth and abundance; they would have to deal with hundreds of thresholds, and it would make their heads spin. And Islam was not established except on the basis of:
Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship
يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَThe Shaykh : In summary: We choose to pay zakah on the total of the thresholds based on the passing of the lunar year for the first threshold only, even if the year has not passed for the remaining thresholds; because they are attached to this threshold. And if a person adopts the second opinion, we do not dispute with him or argue with him, but when he deals with the matter practically, he will find that it is not feasible to implement. And Islam is practical, not theoretical. This is our answer...
The questioner : ... We expanded too much. We said: if we received more than the first threshold, and we received ten thousand pounds in Sha'ban, and Ramadan passed, and we want to spend it in— for example— a sack, do we know where to spend it, Professor? Is it obligatory for us to pay the zakah, in an easy way without difficulty?
The Shaykh : I gave you the answer; if you choose the second opinion, then, if Allah wills, you pay on the entire amount. What concerns us? We told you an hour ago to combine the thresholds with each other; because this...
The questioner : Is safer.
The Shaykh : Not safer, easier.
The questioner : Easier.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The Shaykh : So if you feel that you do not have many consecutive thresholds, and you paid on each threshold separately; there is no objection against you; because this is the original rule.
Another questioner : Regarding the topic...
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : ... that the hadith... of the obligation of zakah...
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : And your current statement indicates that there is zakah... it indicates that there is zakah on trade...
Another questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, I did not say that. I said: whoever accumulates wealth, zakah is obligatory on it. I did not mention trade in goods.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : ... If you ask about trade in goods, ask about it, ask about it as a specific question. As for me, I did not mention trade, I mentioned that merchants accumulate thresholds for them. Otherwise, there are no trade goods. This is regarding currency; a threshold accumulates for him, then a threshold, then a threshold, and it becomes difficult for him. But you are coming with your mind, with your thought, asking about trade in goods, so you have the right to ask about it and hear the answer.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Not just now.
The questioner : The question is on the topic.
The Shaykh : But not just now.
The questioner : In turn.
The Shaykh: Yes.
Another questioner : A question on the topic.
The Shaykh: Go ahead.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.