Foundations · The Five Pillars of Islam

Zakah Payment Scenarios and Rules

Explore conditions affecting zakah obligations and payments in various situations.

10 questions · Easy · about 5 minutes

Test yourself properly, with scoring and instant feedback.

10 questions, about 5 minutes.

Take the quiz
Show questions and answers Spoilers: every answer and explanation for all 10 questions.

1. If someone owes zakah on trade goods but has little cash, how can they pay it?

  • Delay zakah until they have enough cash.
  • Skip zakah because the goods have not been sold.
  • Pay zakah from the trade goods themselves. (correct answer)
  • Subtract all debts and pay nothing on the goods.

Why

If zakah is due on trade goods and the person does not have cash, they may pay zakah from the goods themselves. They should not delay zakah after it becomes due.

View source on IslamQA →

2. If someone is owed money but is not sure they will receive it, when is zakah due on that money?

  • Immediately when they first learn they are owed the money.
  • Every year before they receive the money.
  • As soon as they complain and ask for the money.
  • After they receive it and one full hijri year has passed. (correct answer)

Why

If a person is not certain that they will receive money owed to them, zakah is not due on it yet. Zakah becomes due after they take possession of it and one full hijri year passes.

View source on IslamQA →

3. If zakah was due for past years but was not paid, does the obligation disappear with time?

  • Yes, it disappears after several years.
  • Yes, if the delay was unintentional.
  • No, it remains due and must still be paid. (correct answer)
  • No, but extra charity replaces the missed zakah.

Why

Unpaid zakah does not disappear just because time has passed. If zakah was due and not paid, it must still be paid because it is a right given to the poor and needy.

View source on IslamQA →

4. If zakah became due on someone’s wealth, but the wealth later decreased before they paid it, what should they do?

  • Pay zakah only if the wealth increases again.
  • Pay zakah only on the smaller amount left now.
  • Pay the zakah that was due from before. (correct answer)
  • Nothing, because the wealth has decreased.

Why

Once zakah became due after the wealth reached the nisab and a full year passed, it remained a debt that must be paid. The later decrease in wealth does not cancel the zakah that was already due.

View source on IslamQA →

5. If invested wealth earns profit and reaches the nisab, what should zakah be paid on after one year?

  • Only the profit from that year.
  • Only the original capital.
  • The capital and the profit together. (correct answer)
  • Nothing if the profit is used for family expenses.

Why

Invested wealth that produces profit is subject to zakah after one year if it reaches the nisab. The zakah should be paid on the total amount: both the capital and the profit.

View source on IslamQA →

6. If someone paid more zakah than required without intending it as advance zakah, can the extra count toward next year’s zakah?

  • Yes, it automatically counts toward next year’s zakah.
  • No, it is counted as sadaqah. (correct answer)
  • Yes, but only if the recipient agrees.
  • No, it has no reward at all.

Why

If someone pays more zakah than required, the extra amount is sadaqah and they will be rewarded for it. It cannot be counted toward a future year’s zakah unless it was intended as advance zakah at the time it was given.

View source on IslamQA →

7. Can someone pay zakah in advance before their savings reach the nisab?

  • Yes, any savings can be treated as zakah in advance.
  • Yes, if the savings come from a monthly salary.
  • No, paying zakah in advance before reaching the nisab is invalid. (correct answer)
  • No, because zakah can never be paid in advance.

Why

Zakah may be paid in advance only after a person already owns the nisab. Paying zakah in advance before reaching the minimum threshold is not valid.

View source on IslamQA →

8. Which nisab may be used to calculate zakah on cash because it is safer and more beneficial to the poor?

  • The amount a person earns in one year.
  • The amount a person intends to give in charity.
  • The value of the silver nisab. (correct answer)
  • The cost of a person’s yearly expenses.

Why

Cash is subject to zakah by analogy with gold and silver. Since silver is lower in value nowadays, the nisab for cash may be worked out using the silver nisab, because that is safer and more beneficial to the poor.

View source on IslamQA →

9. Does being an orphan automatically make someone eligible to receive zakah?

  • Yes, every orphan is automatically eligible.
  • No, the orphan must be poor, needy, or fall into another zakah category. (correct answer)
  • Yes, even if the orphan is wealthy.
  • No, orphans can never receive zakah.

Why

An orphan may receive zakah if they are poor, needy, or fall into another valid zakah category. Simply being an orphan does not automatically make someone eligible for zakah, because an orphan may have enough wealth.

View source on IslamQA →

10. Is zakah due on the wealth of minors if the conditions of zakah are met?

  • Yes, being a minor does not waive zakah. (correct answer)
  • No, zakah only begins after adulthood.
  • No, zakah is never due on a child’s wealth.
  • Only if the child personally chooses to pay it.

Why

According to the majority view mentioned, zakah is due on the wealth of minors when the conditions of zakah are met. Being a minor does not remove the obligation connected to the wealth.

View source on IslamQA →

A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

More in The Five Pillars of Islam

Browse all 281 quizzes or explore guidance topics.