The Ruling on Delaying Zakah
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His Eminence the Shaykh: What is the ruling on delaying zakah for a month or two until it is handed over to the government?
It is obligatory for a person to pay zakah immediately, just as it is obligatory for him to pay a debt to a human being immediately if it is not deferred and he is able to pay it.By the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (Withholding the wealth of the rich is injustice) and His saying: (Pay off the debt to Allah, for Allah has more right to be paid). Accordingly, it is obligatory for a person to hasten to pay it. However, if it is the custom of people for the government to take their zakah, and he delays it out of fear that the government will come and demand it from him, then there is no blame on him. He waits until the government’s representative comes and hands it over to him.
It is obligatory for a person to pay zakah immediately, just as it is obligatory for him to pay a debt to a human being immediately if it is not deferred and he is able to pay it.By the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (Withholding the wealth of the rich is injustice) and His saying: (Pay off the debt to Allah, for Allah has more right to be paid). Accordingly, it is obligatory for a person to hasten to pay it. However, if it is the custom of people for the government to take their zakah, and he delays it out of fear that the government will come and demand it from him, then there is no blame on him. He waits until the government’s representative comes and hands it over to him.