A man was negligent and did not pay the zakah for five years, then he repented. Does his repentance exempt him from paying the zakah on the wealth that existed before his repentance? What is his obligation, and how is it calculated?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. A man was negligent in paying the zakah for five years, and now he has repented. Does his repentance exempt him from paying the zakah? If it does not exempt him, what is the solution? This amount is estimated to be more than ten thousand, and he does not know its exact amount now.
The Shaykh : Yes, the zakah is an act of worship for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and a right of the poor. If a person withholds it, he violates two rights: the right of Allah and the right of the poor or others who are entitled to the zakah. If he repents after five years, as stated in the question, the right of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is dropped from him, because Allah the Exalted said in His Book:[Ash-Shuraa 42:25]. The second right remains, which is the right of those entitled to the zakah, such as the poor and others. It is obligatory for him to pay the zakah to them. He may be rewarded with the reward of the zakah along with the sincerity of his repentance, because the grace of Allah is vast.
As for calculating the zakah, let him investigate what the amount of the zakah is to the best of his ability, for Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. For example, what is the zakah on ten thousand in one year?
Two hundred and fifty. So if the amount of the zakah is two hundred and fifty, let him pay two hundred and fifty for the past years, unless in some of the years the amount exceeded ten thousand, in which case he should pay the amount of that excess.
The questioner : Even if it has been five years?
The Shaykh : Five years, for all the years that have passed.
The Shaykh : Yes, the zakah is an act of worship for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and a right of the poor. If a person withholds it, he violates two rights: the right of Allah and the right of the poor or others who are entitled to the zakah. If he repents after five years, as stated in the question, the right of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is dropped from him, because Allah the Exalted said in His Book:
And it is He who accepts repentance from his servants and pardons misdeeds
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِAs for calculating the zakah, let him investigate what the amount of the zakah is to the best of his ability, for Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. For example, what is the zakah on ten thousand in one year?
Two hundred and fifty. So if the amount of the zakah is two hundred and fifty, let him pay two hundred and fifty for the past years, unless in some of the years the amount exceeded ten thousand, in which case he should pay the amount of that excess.
The questioner : Even if it has been five years?
The Shaykh : Five years, for all the years that have passed.