What does a woman do if she has nothing but her jewelry? Does she pay zakah on it?
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Question:
The scholars have differed regarding the zakah on women's used jewelry, with some saying it is obligatory and others saying it is not. Therefore, I hope you will set a limit to these differences and give a decisive ruling. If the answer is that it is obligatory, what should a woman do if she has nothing but her jewelry?
Answer: The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them), and the Companions before them, have differed regarding the zakah on women's jewelry, such as gold and silver necklaces, bracelets, rings, and the like, when it reaches the nisab. The nisab is twenty mithqals of gold, which is eleven pounds and three-sevenths of a pound of used gold, and one hundred and forty mithqals of silver, which is fifty-six dirhams or the equivalent in paper currency. This is the minimum nisab, and anything exceeding it is even more so. Some scholars, from among the Companions and those after them, said: She must pay zakah on the jewelry if it reaches the nisab, due to the generality of the evidence indicating the obligation of zakah on gold and silver. Others said: Zakah is not obligatory on it because it is intended for use.
The stronger position is that zakah is obligatory on it, due to the generality of the evidence indicating the obligation of zakah on gold and silver. This is because when Umm Salamah asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about jewelry: "Is it a treasure?" he said:. And because he (peace and blessings be upon him) asked a woman who had two gold bracelets: She said: No. So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 1563Hasan (Al-Albani) the hadith.
If a woman has nothing to pay zakah with except her jewelry, she must sell some of the jewelry or borrow what she needs to pay the zakah. If her husband or someone else pays the zakah on her behalf with her permission, there is no harm. And success is from Allah.
The scholars have differed regarding the zakah on women's used jewelry, with some saying it is obligatory and others saying it is not. Therefore, I hope you will set a limit to these differences and give a decisive ruling. If the answer is that it is obligatory, what should a woman do if she has nothing but her jewelry?
Answer: The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them), and the Companions before them, have differed regarding the zakah on women's jewelry, such as gold and silver necklaces, bracelets, rings, and the like, when it reaches the nisab. The nisab is twenty mithqals of gold, which is eleven pounds and three-sevenths of a pound of used gold, and one hundred and forty mithqals of silver, which is fifty-six dirhams or the equivalent in paper currency. This is the minimum nisab, and anything exceeding it is even more so. Some scholars, from among the Companions and those after them, said: She must pay zakah on the jewelry if it reaches the nisab, due to the generality of the evidence indicating the obligation of zakah on gold and silver. Others said: Zakah is not obligatory on it because it is intended for use.
The stronger position is that zakah is obligatory on it, due to the generality of the evidence indicating the obligation of zakah on gold and silver. This is because when Umm Salamah asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about jewelry: "Is it a treasure?" he said:
Whatever reaches the amount where zakah is due, if zakah is paid on it, it is not a treasure.
ما بلغ أن يزكى فزكي فليس بكنزDo you pay its zakah?
هل تؤدين زكاتهما؟Are you pleased that Allah may put two bangles of fire on your hands?
أيسرك أن يسورك الله بهما سوارين من نار..If a woman has nothing to pay zakah with except her jewelry, she must sell some of the jewelry or borrow what she needs to pay the zakah. If her husband or someone else pays the zakah on her behalf with her permission, there is no harm. And success is from Allah.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.