Ruling on Delaying the Payment of Zakah
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Q143: The questioner, S. M. from the Republic of Sudan, says: I work in one of the countries, and I have some sheep in Sudan. I have been outside Sudan for more than a year. Is it permissible to delay the zakah on them until after I return to Sudan? I am aware that I did not pay the zakah on them last year while I was outside Sudan. So, after I return to Sudan, should I wait until the second lunar year completes and pay the zakah for both years together, or should I expedite the zakah for the past year?
A143: There is no doubt that zakah is one of the pillars of Islam, and that it is obligatory to pay it when the lunar year is completed, provided one is able to do so. If you are, for example, absent from your wealth as you mentioned, with your wealth in Sudan and you residing outside Sudan, then you must appoint a proxy to act on your behalf in paying the zakah at its due time. Doing so is a hastening to fulfill the obligation and to complete the right that is upon you, out of fear that an unforeseen event, such as death, forgetfulness, or something else, may occur, causing the payment of the obligation to be delayed or become difficult. As for what you mentioned regarding whether, when you return to your country, you should delay paying the zakah on last year's wealth until the next year comes and pay both together, or expedite the required amount, you must hasten to pay the zakah for the past year. This is not "expediting" as you phrased it, but rather paying the zakah that has become established and obligatory for a previous year. True expediting means paying the zakah before its time has arrived. Therefore, you may be required to pay the zakah for the past year immediately upon arriving in your country, provided you are able to do so. It is not permissible for you to delay it except for a valid Shari'ah excuse, because delaying it is a negligence in paying it and exposes it to obstacles that prevent its payment. If, as we mentioned, you had appointed a proxy and instructed someone you trust, and in whom you have confidence that he will spend it in its lawful Shari'ah channels, to pay it during your absence, that would have been better and would have cleared your conscience. You may be required to take care in paying the zakah on your wealth, to hasten in paying it, and not to be lax in paying it.
He should direct it to its lawful channels, for that would be better and would clear his conscience more completely. He should be concerned with paying the zakah on his wealth, hasten to pay it, and not be lax in paying it.
A143: There is no doubt that zakah is one of the pillars of Islam, and that it is obligatory to pay it when the lunar year is completed, provided one is able to do so. If you are, for example, absent from your wealth as you mentioned, with your wealth in Sudan and you residing outside Sudan, then you must appoint a proxy to act on your behalf in paying the zakah at its due time. Doing so is a hastening to fulfill the obligation and to complete the right that is upon you, out of fear that an unforeseen event, such as death, forgetfulness, or something else, may occur, causing the payment of the obligation to be delayed or become difficult. As for what you mentioned regarding whether, when you return to your country, you should delay paying the zakah on last year's wealth until the next year comes and pay both together, or expedite the required amount, you must hasten to pay the zakah for the past year. This is not "expediting" as you phrased it, but rather paying the zakah that has become established and obligatory for a previous year. True expediting means paying the zakah before its time has arrived. Therefore, you may be required to pay the zakah for the past year immediately upon arriving in your country, provided you are able to do so. It is not permissible for you to delay it except for a valid Shari'ah excuse, because delaying it is a negligence in paying it and exposes it to obstacles that prevent its payment. If, as we mentioned, you had appointed a proxy and instructed someone you trust, and in whom you have confidence that he will spend it in its lawful Shari'ah channels, to pay it during your absence, that would have been better and would have cleared your conscience. You may be required to take care in paying the zakah on your wealth, to hasten in paying it, and not to be lax in paying it.
He should direct it to its lawful channels, for that would be better and would clear his conscience more completely. He should be concerned with paying the zakah on his wealth, hasten to pay it, and not be lax in paying it.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.