What is the ruling on delaying the zakah of gold for more than three months, and if one buys gold during the lunar year?
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The questioner : Shaykh, if one delays the zakah of gold for more than three months, that is one aspect, and the other aspect is if he buys new gold and adds it to the old gold for which zakah has become obligatory.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right.
Delaying the zakah, whether it is the zakah of gold or anything else, is not permissible except if a person does not find those to whom zakah is due, and he delays it to seek out those he sees are eligible. In that case, there is nothing wrong with it.
But he must track the lunar year for the sake of the second year. He cannot say, "I have not paid zakah for a period of months, so I will add another six months."
For example, if it became due in Ramadan and he did not find anyone to give it to, and he delayed it until Dhu al-Qa'dah, then when the second Ramadan comes, he pays the zakah. He does not say, "I did not pay it until Dhu al-Qa'dah, so I will not pay it except in Dhu al-Qa'dah." No, because the first delay was for a valid reason, so there is nothing wrong with it.
As for if he buys gold during the lunar year, it is not added to the first gold for the sake of zakah; rather, it has its own lunar year. And if he wishes to add it to the first and pay the zakah of both at one time, there is nothing wrong with it, and this is considered paying the zakah early.
The questioner : Shaykh, does he complete the nisab of what he bought?
The Shaykh : Yes, if what he bought is less than the nisab, it is added to the first for the sake of the nisab. Yes, but for the lunar year, it has its own year, unless he chooses to make the zakah of both in one month.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right.
Delaying the zakah, whether it is the zakah of gold or anything else, is not permissible except if a person does not find those to whom zakah is due, and he delays it to seek out those he sees are eligible. In that case, there is nothing wrong with it.
But he must track the lunar year for the sake of the second year. He cannot say, "I have not paid zakah for a period of months, so I will add another six months."
For example, if it became due in Ramadan and he did not find anyone to give it to, and he delayed it until Dhu al-Qa'dah, then when the second Ramadan comes, he pays the zakah. He does not say, "I did not pay it until Dhu al-Qa'dah, so I will not pay it except in Dhu al-Qa'dah." No, because the first delay was for a valid reason, so there is nothing wrong with it.
As for if he buys gold during the lunar year, it is not added to the first gold for the sake of zakah; rather, it has its own lunar year. And if he wishes to add it to the first and pay the zakah of both at one time, there is nothing wrong with it, and this is considered paying the zakah early.
The questioner : Shaykh, does he complete the nisab of what he bought?
The Shaykh : Yes, if what he bought is less than the nisab, it is added to the first for the sake of the nisab. Yes, but for the lunar year, it has its own year, unless he chooses to make the zakah of both in one month.