Zakah on jewelry

13-7-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

I need advice about Zakah on gold. I recently got married and my father has bought me a lot of gold for my wedding. This gold, I only wear occasionally, on weddings that occur only, maybe 4-5 times a year.
One Ramadan has already passed since I have owned the gold. I would like to know whether I am liable to pay Zakah. If I have to, how much should I pay from the last Ramadan to the next?

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 ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

First and foremost, on the occasion of your marriage we tell you: "May Allaah bless you and your spouse and may He unite both of you in goodness."

This is what Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to say when congratulating someone who marries, as reported by Abu Daawood in his Sunan, and others.

As regards the Zakah for gold, there is a difference of opinion among the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them about the women's jewelry used for adornment. The majority of the scholars are of the view that there is no Zakah on it; this is narrated by Ibn 'Umar, 'Aa'ishah and other Companions may Allaah be pleased with them. However, other scholars said that such jewelry is liable for Zakah if it reaches the Nisaab (the minimum amount liable for Zakah) and a whole lunar year passes after possessing it. This is narrated by 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, 'Abdullaah Ibn Massoud, Ibn 'Abbaas and others may Allaah be pleased with them.

This second opinion is more appropriate in order to be on the safe side, and to fulfill the rights of the poor. Therefore, we advise you to pay Zakah on this gold if it reaches the minimum amount liable for Zakah, which is 85 grams, and if a whole lunar year elapses on it.

To pay the Zakah on this gold, you have to know its weight and its value in the market, if you want to sell it- this is of course after a whole lunar year elapses on it, and then you have to give out (as Zakah) 2.5% of its value. And every year you have to pay 2.5 % Zakah on your gold.

If a whole lunar year already passed and you did not pay the Zakah, then you have to pay the Zakah on it now.

Allaah Knows best.

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