Paying Zakat in installments

9-3-2005 | IslamWeb

Question:

As one year completed on my gold I had to pay Zakaat on it but I didn't have enough money to pay so I paid 1/3 and say as I get more money I will pay later. Before few days I had money so I put out remained Zakaah which I had to pay, but here I didn't find any one to give Zakaah. I keep that money separate but I didn't give to any one, now after few days I have had more gold so kindly tell me should I give Zakaah on that new gold or give when one year will have been passed?

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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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

If the gold that you are asking about is jewellery that you wear and beautify yourself with, then there is no Zakat on it according to the majority of the scholars. However, if this gold is saved for other purposes, then Zakat has to be paid on it if it reaches the minimum amount liable for Zakat, which is 85 grams of gold, and if a whole lunar year elapses on it. In this case Zakat has to be paid on it immediately and it should not be delayed, except for a short period if one does not find a poor person to give it out to, or due to waiting for the return of a relative to give it to him and the like. Ibn Qudaamah said: 'If one delays paying the Zakat in order to give it to a relative who deserves it, or someone who is very much in need for it, it is permissible to wait for a short period, but it would not be permissible if one has to wait for a long period."

As regards delaying the payment of Zakat on this gold because of the lack of cash money, then this is not a sound excuse, but it is an obligation to give a portion of this gold to the people who are eligible for Zakat, or to value it [this portion] and then give out its value as Zakat. 

Allaah knows best.