What is the ruling on the zakah of jewelry? Is it permissible to pay it in installments if the owner does not have the amount to pay the zakah on her jewelry? And a warning against gold rings

The questioner : We ask that you clarify for us the issue of the zakah of a woman's jewelry, and whether it is permissible to pay the zakah in installments if the amount sufficient for the zakah of this jewelry is not available?

The Shaykh : The zakah of jewelry, according to the stronger of the scholars' opinions, is obligatory, exactly like the zakah of the two types of currency (gold and silver). This is because there are many authentic hadiths that command the one who adorns herself with gold jewelry to pay the zakah. This is the answer to the first part of the question. As for the second part, which is whether it is permissible to pay in installments if the owner of the jewelry does not have the means to pay the zakah on her jewelry, I have two answers to this part of the question. One is that it is permissible, without doubt, because the objective is to clear one's conscience, whether immediately or later. However, there are two matters related to the completion of this answer, one of which relates to the second answer I mentioned earlier. I will say that the first is that this woman who wants to pay in installments does not guarantee that she will live long enough to pay the zakah on her wealth until the end of what is due from her. Therefore, we urge her to hasten to pay the entire zakah in one step and one payment, for the reason we mentioned earlier. This is among the meanings of the saying of Allah the Exalted: Whoever among the Muslim men and women wants to realize this Quranic text must hasten in every good. He must hasten in performing the 'Umrah, he must hasten in performing Hajj, he must hasten in paying the zakah. But if he delays and then pays, his conscience is cleared. As for the other answer, which I advise women who adorn themselves with gold jewelry to follow, is that if she does not have the means to pay the zakah on her jewelry, she should dispose of her jewelry. This is a step toward being rid of this jewelry with which women have been afflicted, especially since the majority of it is gold rings. It came in more than one hadith that adorning oneself with gold rings is a ring of fire, or a collar of fire, or a bracelet of fire. Therefore, I see that whoever is in this state of inability to pay the zakah in one lump sum should sell this jewelry, pay the zakah, and be relieved of the evil of gold rings. Perhaps this extent is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And may Allah protect you.