I own a herd of cattle in the Arab Republic of Egypt
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The questioner : I own a herd of cattle in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Is it permissible for me, while I am here in the Republic of Iraq, to pay the obligatory zakah on these cattle while I am in Iraq, or should I wait until I return to my country, Egypt?
The Shaykh : Rather, it is obligatory for you to pay its zakah whenever the lunar year of possession is completed. So appoint someone to pay it there in Egypt. Appointing someone to pay zakah is permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to send collectors and workers for zakah, and they would take it from the people and bring it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib to slaughter the remainder of his sacrificial animals during the Farewell Pilgrimage. So appoint someone you trust in your country, Egypt, to pay the zakah on these cattle. It is not permissible for you to delay it until you return, because that would be delaying the zakah and depriving its rightful recipients of it at the proper time. You do not know; perhaps you will not reach Egypt afterwards, perhaps you will die before you go to Egypt. In that case, the zakah becomes a debt on your estate, and you do not know; perhaps your heirs after you will not fulfill what Allah has made obligatory upon you of this zakah. So hasten, my brother, hasten. May Allah reward you by paying the zakah and not delaying it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh. Also, the listener says.
The Shaykh : Rather, it is obligatory for you to pay its zakah whenever the lunar year of possession is completed. So appoint someone to pay it there in Egypt. Appointing someone to pay zakah is permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to send collectors and workers for zakah, and they would take it from the people and bring it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). It is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib to slaughter the remainder of his sacrificial animals during the Farewell Pilgrimage. So appoint someone you trust in your country, Egypt, to pay the zakah on these cattle. It is not permissible for you to delay it until you return, because that would be delaying the zakah and depriving its rightful recipients of it at the proper time. You do not know; perhaps you will not reach Egypt afterwards, perhaps you will die before you go to Egypt. In that case, the zakah becomes a debt on your estate, and you do not know; perhaps your heirs after you will not fulfill what Allah has made obligatory upon you of this zakah. So hasten, my brother, hasten. May Allah reward you by paying the zakah and not delaying it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh. Also, the listener says.