When I give Zakat for previous years, what should I intend? Can I give Zakat through a website? Must I give Zakat according to the lunar year? |
Fasting - Ramadan | |||
Q: 164 – Title: When I give Zakat for previous years, what should I intend? Can I give Zakat through a website? Must I give Zakat according to the lunar year? Question I have tried to work out to the best of my ability (inshaAllah) how much Zakah to give for previous years that I missed and current year. I'm giving more than I should -- I think -- to be on safe side. However, I need to know how to give it away now: 1) What should the niyat (intention) be for previous years? 2) I think you're supposed to give it directly to the poor but can I give through charity websites? Isn’t this through a 3rd party? 3) Also I'm confused about lunar year and normal year. My Zakah is every 06/June annually in the normal year but how do I give in every lunar year? Please explain all this to me. Answer In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh.
If the first time that you acquired money equal to or above the Nisaab was on the 6th of June, then you must find out the Hijri date of the 6th of June of that year. There are some websites that convert Gregorian dates to Hijri dates. Once you discover the Hijri date, you must assess your zakatable assets on that Hijri date every year and give Zakat based on your assessment. For example, if the first time that you acquired money over the Nisaab was on the 10th of Ramadan of this year, then starting from next year, every year on the 10th of Ramadan, you must assess your zakatable assets and give Zakat based on your assessment (if your zakatable assets are equal to or more than the Nisaab).
(Al-lubaab: pg 149, Dar Quba; Al-Ikhtiyaar: 1/149, Dar Quba; Contemporary Fatawaa: pg 79, Idara-e-Islamiat)
And Allah knows best. Ml. Faizal Riza Concurred by: Mufti Abrar Mirza Under the Supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai (South Africa)
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