QUESTION:
I received the Nisaab amount on the 20th Of July, and by the 25th of July, I was left with R0.00. From what I am aware of, upon loss of funds, my Zakaah is reset. Today I opened a gift box that was given to me on the 19th of July, and found an envelope containing R350. What is the ruling of my Zakaah?
ANSWER:
There are two categories of Nisaab. One is referred to as “Nisaab-e-Asli” and the other is “Nisaab-e-Mustafaad”. If a person becomes the owner of Nisaab on the 1st of Dhul Hijjah 1445, and maintains the Nisaab for a complete year, then Zakaat will be due on the funds on the 1st of Dhul Hijjah 1446. Thereafter, in Safr 1447 he acquires another R10 000.00, then this is referred to as ‘Maal-e-Mustafaad.’ It is not necessary that he maintains the R10 000.00 for a complete year, rather when the 1st of Dhul Hijjah 1447 enters, then Zakaat will be due on all the funds in one’s possession, with the proviso that his balance never reached zero at any point during the year. If he lost all his funds at any point in the year, then he will start a new Zakaat date when he acquires the Nisaab for the very first time again. Now coming to your scenario, since you do not have Nisaab, your Zakaat date will only commence when you receive the complete Nisaab for the very first time and maintain it for a complete year.
(وَشَرْطُهُ) أَيْ وَشَرْطُ وُجُوبِ أَدَائِهَا (الْحَوْلَانِ) أَيْ حَوْلَانِ الْحَوْلُ (بِثَمَنِيَّةِ الْمَالِ) كَالدَّرَاهِمِ وَالدَّنَانِيرِ (أَوْ السَّوَائِمِ أَوْ نِيَّةِ التِّجَارَةِ) إذَا مَا لَمْ تُوجَدْ هَذِهِ الْأَشْيَاءُ لَمْ يَتَوَجَّهْ الْخِطَابُ فَلَا يَأْثَمُ بِالتَّرْكِ (درر الحكام ص174 ج1)
وشرط وجوب أدائها حولان الحول على النصاب الأصلي وأما المستفاد في أثناء الحول فيضم إلى مجانسه ويزكي بتمام الحول الأصلي سواء استفيد بتجارة أو ميراث أو غيره (مراقي الفلاح ص271 ج1)
AND ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
Date: 23 Muharram 1446 / 30 July 2024