What is the ruling on delaying zakah for a period of time for a benefit, provided it is specified?
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The questioner : Regarding the delay of zakah, if it is for the benefit of the zakah itself, and it is specified and known, for example,
The Shaykh : And how?
The questioner : Delaying the zakah, if it is going to be for a benefit,
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : where the value is fixed, meaning they have a system that determines the value and adds percentages to it each year. If you delay it, for example, one month, two months, or three months, I do not know?
The Shaykh : Meaning, you delay its delivery to the benefit.
The questioner : If you delay paying the zakah, delaying it on the condition that you set the value that will be paid, so it is delayed one or two months,
The Shaykh : Meaning, you delay handing it over to the government.
The questioner : Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : Why?
The questioner : And by Allah, due to circumstances of indifference.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a person to pay zakah immediately, just as if a debt were owed to a human being, it is obligatory for him to pay it immediately if it was not deferred and he was able to pay it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
And His sayingSahih al-Bukhari 1852. And on this basis, it is obligatory for a person to hasten to pay it. But if it is the custom of people that the government takes their zakah, and he delays it out of fear that the government will come and demand it from him, then there is no blame on him.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : So there is no blame on him; he waits until the government’s envoy comes and takes it from him.
The Shaykh : And how?
The questioner : Delaying the zakah, if it is going to be for a benefit,
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : where the value is fixed, meaning they have a system that determines the value and adds percentages to it each year. If you delay it, for example, one month, two months, or three months, I do not know?
The Shaykh : Meaning, you delay its delivery to the benefit.
The questioner : If you delay paying the zakah, delaying it on the condition that you set the value that will be paid, so it is delayed one or two months,
The Shaykh : Meaning, you delay handing it over to the government.
The questioner : Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : Why?
The questioner : And by Allah, due to circumstances of indifference.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a person to pay zakah immediately, just as if a debt were owed to a human being, it is obligatory for him to pay it immediately if it was not deferred and he was able to pay it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Delaying the payment of a wealthy person is injustice.
مطل الغني ظلمAnd His saying
So, pay Allah's debt as He has more right to be paid.
اقضوا الله فالله أحق بالقضاءThe questioner : ...
The Shaykh : So there is no blame on him; he waits until the government’s envoy comes and takes it from him.