The issue of paying the zakah of gold acquired later together with that acquired earlier
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A woman asks whether she owns a quantity of gold that she acquired at different times, and whether she may delay paying the zakah on all of it until the end of the period in which she acquired the last piece.
The correct view is that she may pay the zakah on the later-acquired gold early, but she may not delay the zakah on the earlier-acquired gold; because once zakah becomes obligatory, it is not permissible to delay it except for a legitimate Shari'ah interest, and there is no legitimate Shari'ah interest here. Therefore, it is best for her to pay the zakah on the later-acquired gold early, and she may also pay the zakah on each item at its own time.
The questioner: What if she does not know the time of acquisition?The Shaykh: If she does not know, for example, if she is unsure whether she acquired it in the month of Muharram or Safar, then she is only required to pay it out at the end of the period—Meaning: considering it to be Safar.
As for if she knows the times of acquisition, there are two ways to pay the zakah:Meaning: Let us suppose she acquired this piece in Muharram, this piece in Rabi', the third in Jumada, and the fourth in Sha'ban.We say: You may pay the zakah on all of it if you wish, and this would be paying the zakah on the later-acquired gold early. It is not permissible to delay the zakah on the Muharram gold until Sha'ban. The result is that paying early is permissible, but delaying is not permissible.
And she has a second way: She pays the zakah on what she acquired in Muharram in Muharram, and on what she acquired in the months following, each at its own time.
The correct view is that she may pay the zakah on the later-acquired gold early, but she may not delay the zakah on the earlier-acquired gold; because once zakah becomes obligatory, it is not permissible to delay it except for a legitimate Shari'ah interest, and there is no legitimate Shari'ah interest here. Therefore, it is best for her to pay the zakah on the later-acquired gold early, and she may also pay the zakah on each item at its own time.
The questioner: What if she does not know the time of acquisition?The Shaykh: If she does not know, for example, if she is unsure whether she acquired it in the month of Muharram or Safar, then she is only required to pay it out at the end of the period—Meaning: considering it to be Safar.
As for if she knows the times of acquisition, there are two ways to pay the zakah:Meaning: Let us suppose she acquired this piece in Muharram, this piece in Rabi', the third in Jumada, and the fourth in Sha'ban.We say: You may pay the zakah on all of it if you wish, and this would be paying the zakah on the later-acquired gold early. It is not permissible to delay the zakah on the Muharram gold until Sha'ban. The result is that paying early is permissible, but delaying is not permissible.
And she has a second way: She pays the zakah on what she acquired in Muharram in Muharram, and on what she acquired in the months following, each at its own time.