I have a plot of land offered for sale, and a lunar year has passed over it, yet it is still in my possession. How do I pay its zakah if it is subject to zakah?
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The questioner : The questioner says: I have a plot of land offered for sale, and a lunar year has passed over it, yet it is still in my possession. How do I pay its zakah if it is subject to zakah?
The Shaykh : If this land that he has prepared for sale is trading land, meaning he is one of those who trade in land, then zakah is obligatory on it, whether it is sold or not. However, if this land is not trading land, but rather land he bought to build a project on, or to build a house on, or he bought it to preserve his money in it, or he bought it saying, "When I need it, I will sell it," then there is no zakah on it. This happens frequently for people; a person may buy land to build a house on, then change his mind and offer it for sale. In such a case, there is no zakah on it, just as if a person wanted to move out of his house, moved out, and offered it for sale, there would be no zakah on it.
The Shaykh : If this land that he has prepared for sale is trading land, meaning he is one of those who trade in land, then zakah is obligatory on it, whether it is sold or not. However, if this land is not trading land, but rather land he bought to build a project on, or to build a house on, or he bought it to preserve his money in it, or he bought it saying, "When I need it, I will sell it," then there is no zakah on it. This happens frequently for people; a person may buy land to build a house on, then change his mind and offer it for sale. In such a case, there is no zakah on it, just as if a person wanted to move out of his house, moved out, and offered it for sale, there would be no zakah on it.