In which month should Zakah be given?

In which month should Zakah be given?

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

  What do the respected scholars and the muftis of jurisprudence say regarding this matter that is it necessary to give Zakah in the month of Rajab-ul-Murajjab or should it be given in Ramadan?Questioner: Gulstan Anjum (Chakwal)

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

  Zakah does not have any relation to Ramadan-ul-Mubarak or Rajab-ul-Murajjab, but rather, the paying  of Zakah is Fard upon the completion of an entire year. Meaning when one becomes Sahib-e-Nisaab (i.e. he possesses wealth meeting the minimum threshold) and a year passes upon having that Nisab , then Zakah will become Fard whatever month it may be; delaying it is a sin and not permissible. For example, if a person became Sahib-e-Nisaab on 5th of Shawwal-ul-Mukarram at 10am, and he is still Sahib-e-Nisab on the same date in the same month the following year too, then Zakah is Fard upon him. Thus, it is Fard to pay the Zakah right at that time. The one delaying it will be sinful. In the same way, if he becomes Sahib-e-Nisaab in Rajab or Ramadan, then this is what will be taken into consideration. However, there is no harm in paying Zakah before the month (of completion of one year) arrives. Like if it is Fard on one to pay Zakah in Shawwal-ul-Mukarram and if he wants to pay it in Ramadan, then it will be fine, rather, the one acting upon a Fard in Ramadan is given 70 times higher reward. For this reason, it is a good thing if one pays Zakah in Ramadan, before the elapsing of a whole year, to gain more reward. However, if one’s year is completing in Rajab or Sha’ban and he thinks that Ramadan is approaching in a month or two and that he will pay it then, doing this is not permissible. Rather, Zakah should be given as soon as the year is completed.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ  عَزَّوَجَلَّ  وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered by:Abu Huzaifah Muhammad Shafiq Attari

Verified by:Mufti Fuzail Raza Attari

Tags : Zakah Zakat