Miscellaneous Queries On Zakaah

Q1. Some cattle were given to me by the Department of Agriculture on a farm that was leased by the government. I took over the farm on the 25th of July. 

Thereafter I traded some cattle and kept some back. After a few incidents in March the following year, I decided to give the farm and the cattle back. Whatever belonged to me in terms of the cattle I sold, there were some cattle from the original herd that remained, and I asked the Department to take the farm back with the cattle. On the day when I gave the keys back to the Department, the Department decided to award the cattle to me. I would like to know if I have to pay Zakaah for those cattle. In the interim, everything was on my name until the 1st of July the following year?

A1. Zakaat will be paid on the cattle.

Q2. I have carried out some construction work for a company. There are invoices outstanding for over 2 years that have not been paid. I might receive payment for it but I am not sure when it will come. On the turnover of these invoices, do I have to pay Zakaah on it, or do I have to wait for payment first? 

A2. You will pay Zakaah on the debt for the previous years and going forward. However, the Zakaah is only due when you receive payment of the Nisaab amount or more. 

(وَتَتِمُّ) الْهِبَةُ (بِالْقَبْضِ) الْكَامِلِ(الدر المختار مع حاشية الشامي ٥/٦٨٩)

(وَرُكْنُهَا) هُوَ (الْإِيجَابُ وَالْقَبُولُ) (الدر المختار مع حاشية الشامي٥/٦٨٨)

وَأَمَّا إذَا كَانَتْ الْأَلْفُ مِنْ دَيْنٍ قَوِيٍّ كَبَدَلِ عُرُوضِ تِجَارَةٍ، فَإِنَّ ابْتِدَاءَ الْحَوْلِ هُوَ حَوْلُ الْأَصْلِ لَا مِنْ حِينِ الْبَيْعِ وَلَا مِنْ حِينِ الْقَبْضِ، فَإِذَا قَبَضَ مِنْهُ نِصَابًا أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ دِرْهَمًا زَكَّاهُ عَمَّا مَضَى بَانِيًا عَلَى حَوْلِ الْأَصْلِ (الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ٢/٣٠٦)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Umar Farooq Rangila

Date: 28 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1447 / 21 October 2025

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb