How is the zakah that is owed by people and paid in installments to be paid?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh: Regarding, O Shaykh, those who buy cars on installment, sometimes the person who buys the car on installment and the car dealer who sells the car on installment, the first installment comes due, and before long a month or two or three passes, and then he buys another car on installment, and the third or fourth installment is delayed by six or seven months, so the arrival of the money to him is not regular. Is there a way for a person to be scrupulous and pay his zakah in a manner that clears his conscience without the method of writing down every income he receives?
The Shaykh : The way for one who has debts owed to him by people that come at different times, or salaries that come at different times, when the time for zakah arrives, is to count what he has and what is in the hands of people (owed to him) and pay zakah on it, and his conscience is cleared and he is at ease. Yes, meaning, for example, if a person’s zakah is due in Ramadan, we say: when Ramadan comes, count the money you have, then add to it the debts owed to you by people, then pay the zakah on the total, and you will be at ease.
The Shaykh : The way for one who has debts owed to him by people that come at different times, or salaries that come at different times, when the time for zakah arrives, is to count what he has and what is in the hands of people (owed to him) and pay zakah on it, and his conscience is cleared and he is at ease. Yes, meaning, for example, if a person’s zakah is due in Ramadan, we say: when Ramadan comes, count the money you have, then add to it the debts owed to you by people, then pay the zakah on the total, and you will be at ease.