Question (Q-48):
A woman had fifty-seven tolas of gold for eighteen years and thirty tolas for six years but did not pay Zakāh upon this wealth. Now she no longer has this wealth in her possession but wishes to fulfill the Zakāh that she failed to pay over the years. Please inform us in relation to the Sharī’ah ruling pertaining to this matter?
Answer:
It is necessary for the female who had fifty seven tolas (approximately 664.62 grams) of gold in her possession for eighteen years and thereafter had thirty tolas (approximately 349.80 grams) for six years all of which she did not pay Zakāh upon, to pay Zakāh for each year based on 2.5% if the Nisāb (the threshold) is still existent. The method of fulfilling the previous Zakāh is that the amount of Zakāh due in each year be deducted and the Zakāh for the following years be worked out from the remainder. This remaining amount should amount to approximately twenty-five tolas (291.50 grams). If the Nisāb (threshold) has finished, then she does not have to fulfil the payments of Zakāh but she is a sinner due to her delay in fulfilling this obligation.
It is stated in a Blessed Hadīth,
هاتوا ربع عشر أموالکم
“Pay one fortieth of your wealth.”
It is stated in Radd ul Muhtār, Volume 2, Page 14,
إذا هلک نصابه بعد تمام الحول والتمکن من الأداء أنه لا يضمن
“It is not necessary for him to make payment of the Zakāh when his Nisāb (threshold) ceases to exist after the completion of a complete year and after it being possible for him to fulfil Zakāh upon it.”
Zakāh is an extremely important obligation as Allah (تعالى) has emphasised the importance of paying it in numerous places within the Holy Qur’ān alongside the Daily Prayers.
The Books of Ahādīth are full of promises of blessings in both worlds for those who pay it and warnings of damnation in both worlds for those who fail to pay it. Therefore, one should avoid being even slightly negligent in relation to fulfilling Zakāh.
Allah (تعالى) is Most Knowing.
Written by Muftī Shamsulhudā Khān Misbāhī (Allah preserve him)
