A woman owns a collection of gold acquired at different times; may she delay paying the zakah on her gold until the last time she acquired the final piece?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, peace and mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : This questioner asks, saying: She owns a collection of gold acquired at different times; may she delay paying the zakah on all of it until the last time she acquired the final piece?
The Shaykh : The correct ruling is that she may advance the later portion, but she may not delay the earlier portion, because once zakah becomes obligatory, it is not permissible to delay it except for a legitimate Shari'ah interest. Here, there is no legitimate Shari'ah interest. Therefore, it is best for her to advance the later portion. She may also pay the zakah on each item at its own time. Yes?
The questioner : And if she did not know?
The Shaykh : How would she know?
The questioner : If she did this and did not know that it was forbidden?
The Shaykh : If she did not know that this was forbidden?
The questioner : The time of acquisition.
The Shaykh : Meaning, she did not know whether it was in Muharram or in Safar. In that case, she is only required to pay it out at the last time, meaning she considers the last time. Do you understand?
Meaning, Safar is considered, because she does not know whether she acquired this in Muharram or in Safar. We say: the obligation is in Safar.
The questioner : Do you combine them?
The Shaykh : How do you combine them? You do not combine them.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Did we not tell you at the beginning that she does not delay the earlier portion, but she may advance the later portion?
The questioner : Meaning, she acquired it in Muharram!
The Shaykh : Meaning, suppose she acquired this piece in Muharram, this piece in Rabi', the third in Jumada, and the fourth in Sha'ban. We say: Pay the zakah on all of it in Muharram if you wish, and this will be an early payment of the zakah on the later portions. It is not permissible to delay the Muharram portion until Sha'ban. The result is that advancing is permissible, but delaying is not permissible. Yes.
She has another option: she pays the zakah on what she acquired in Muharram in Muharram, and on what she acquired in the months following it at its respective time. Yes?
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : This questioner asks, saying: She owns a collection of gold acquired at different times; may she delay paying the zakah on all of it until the last time she acquired the final piece?
The Shaykh : The correct ruling is that she may advance the later portion, but she may not delay the earlier portion, because once zakah becomes obligatory, it is not permissible to delay it except for a legitimate Shari'ah interest. Here, there is no legitimate Shari'ah interest. Therefore, it is best for her to advance the later portion. She may also pay the zakah on each item at its own time. Yes?
The questioner : And if she did not know?
The Shaykh : How would she know?
The questioner : If she did this and did not know that it was forbidden?
The Shaykh : If she did not know that this was forbidden?
The questioner : The time of acquisition.
The Shaykh : Meaning, she did not know whether it was in Muharram or in Safar. In that case, she is only required to pay it out at the last time, meaning she considers the last time. Do you understand?
Meaning, Safar is considered, because she does not know whether she acquired this in Muharram or in Safar. We say: the obligation is in Safar.
The questioner : Do you combine them?
The Shaykh : How do you combine them? You do not combine them.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Did we not tell you at the beginning that she does not delay the earlier portion, but she may advance the later portion?
The questioner : Meaning, she acquired it in Muharram!
The Shaykh : Meaning, suppose she acquired this piece in Muharram, this piece in Rabi', the third in Jumada, and the fourth in Sha'ban. We say: Pay the zakah on all of it in Muharram if you wish, and this will be an early payment of the zakah on the later portions. It is not permissible to delay the Muharram portion until Sha'ban. The result is that advancing is permissible, but delaying is not permissible. Yes.
She has another option: she pays the zakah on what she acquired in Muharram in Muharram, and on what she acquired in the months following it at its respective time. Yes?