Foundations · The Five Pillars of Islam

Zakat Calculation and Payment Scenarios

Understanding specific situations in calculating and paying zakat obligations.

9 questions · Easy · about 4 minutes

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1. When calculating zakah on trade, what should be done with profits that are still in hand at the end of the year?

  • Ignore them because zakah is only on the goods.
  • Subtract them from the value of the goods.
  • Add them to the value of the goods. (correct answer)
  • Pay zakah on them only if they were reinvested.

Why

If a trader still has profits in hand at the end of the year, those profits should be added to the value of the trade goods, along with debts owed to the trader that they still hope to recover.

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2. If someone acquires new gold during their zakah year, when does the zakah year for that new gold begin?

  • From the day they bought it or received it. (correct answer)
  • From the day they first owned any gold.
  • Only after they sell the new gold.
  • Immediately, without waiting for a zakah year.

Why

Newly acquired gold has its own zakah year starting from the day it was bought or received. However, a person may choose to pay zakah on the new gold early together with the old gold.

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3. Who is responsible for paying zakah on a wife’s jewelry?

  • The husband automatically, because he is responsible for the household.
  • The wife, because she owns the jewelry. (correct answer)
  • Both spouses equally.
  • No one, because jewelry is never subject to zakah.

Why

Zakah is due from the owner of the wealth. Since the jewelry belongs to the wife, she is responsible for paying zakah on it. If her husband or someone else pays it on her behalf with her permission, that is acceptable.

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4. Can a husband and wife combine their cash and gold, then pay zakah on the total together?

  • Yes, because combining or separating does not change zakah on cash, gold, and silver. (correct answer)
  • No, combining their wealth is forbidden.
  • No, each spouse must always pay separately.
  • Yes, but combining changes the zakah rate.

Why

There is nothing wrong with combining a husband’s and wife’s cash and gold and paying zakah on the total. For cash, gold, and silver, the zakah amount does not change whether the wealth is combined or calculated separately.

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5. If someone gives money in charity without intending it as zakah at the time, can they later count it as zakah?

  • Yes, as long as the money went to a good cause.
  • Yes, if the amount was equal to their zakah.
  • No, because zakah requires intention when it is given. (correct answer)
  • No, because charity has no reward unless it is zakah.

Why

Zakah is an act of worship, so it requires intention at the time it is given. If someone gave money as general charity and did not intend zakah, they cannot later change it into zakah.

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6. If someone sets aside zakah money but it is stolen before reaching eligible recipients, what must they do?

  • They are exempt because they had already set it aside.
  • They only need to make du’a for the stolen money to return.
  • They must give zakah again. (correct answer)
  • They may skip zakah if the stolen amount was large.

Why

Setting aside zakah is not enough if the zakah never reaches the eligible recipients. If the money is stolen before it reaches them, the owner must give something else in its place.

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7. If someone did not pay zakah for several past years out of ignorance, what should they do?

  • Pay only for the current year.
  • Give optional charity instead of the missed zakah.
  • Do nothing because ignorance always waives zakah.
  • Pay zakah for all the past years. (correct answer)

Why

If zakah was due and someone failed to pay it for past years, they must pay it, whether the omission was deliberate or due to ignorance. The source also mentions an exception for matters where there is scholarly dispute, such as used jewelry.

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8. Can zakah be paid using a credit card that charges interest or a penalty for late payment?

  • Yes, it is fully permissible as long as the person plans to pay on time.
  • No, it is not permissible, though the zakah itself is valid if paid that way. (correct answer)
  • No, and the zakah is never valid if paid that way.
  • Yes, but only if the zakah amount is small.

Why

A credit card that stipulates interest or a penalty for late payment is not permissible to use, even if the person intends to pay on time. However, if zakah is paid using such a card, the zakah is still valid and the duty is discharged.

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9. How is zakah paid on shares in companies that engage in trade?

  • Zakah is paid on the shares after deducting the value of buildings, tools, and equipment. (correct answer)
  • No zakah is due because the shares are in a company.
  • Zakah is paid only on profits, even when the company engages in trade.
  • Zakah is paid only when the shareholder sells the shares.

Why

For companies that engage only in trade, or in both manufacturing and trade, zakah must be paid on the shares after deducting the value of buildings, tools, and equipment owned by the company.

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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.

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