Zakah on land bought for building on it

19-8-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

salam, I bought three land plots which are of different costs in different locations. I have planned to construct 2 houses for my 2 daughters after 10 years. I have not yet decided over where I would construct the houses for my daughters. In this case, should I pay zakat for all of the three properties?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Zakah is not due on the pieces of land referred to because they are not trade commodities. For further information, please refer to Fatwa 96293 which clarifies that no Zakah is due on land purchased for building on it rather than for trade; and Fatwa 90450 which clarifies that Zakah is due annually on the land purchased for the purpose of trade.

Allaah Knows best.