Q: Zaid took a loan from Bakr. Bakr demanded a certain amount of cash and jewelry as collateral for the loan. Zaid paid back the loan after three years. Does Zaid have to pay zakaat on the collateral and jewelry for the previous years? A: Zakaat is not fardh upon …

Q: Zaid purchased a consignment of goods from Pakistan with the intention of resale. The goods were thereafter shipped to South Africa. The shipment has not yet reached the port of South Africa and Zaid’s zakaatable year ended. Will Zaid have to pay zakaat upon these goods which he has …

Q: Which people are not eligible to receive zakaat? A: The following people are not eligible to receive zakaat: A non-Muslim A Sayyid (descendent of Nabi Alaihis salaam’s family i.e. the Banu Haashim) even if he is poor. (The Banu Haashim include the descendents of either ‘Abbaas, Ali, Jafar, Aqeel …

Q: A person gave zakaat to a muslim whom he regarded to be eligible for zakaat. However, after giving him the zakaat he discovered that he was unworthy of zakaat. Is the zakaat discharged? A: If a person discharged the zakaat to a muslim whom he regarded to be eligible for …

Q: Will zakaat be discharged by paying a poor person’s light or water account? A: The fundamental requirement in the discharging of zakaat is the aspect of Tamleek i.e. to transfer ownership of the wealth to the recipient of zakaat. In the case where one pays the water or light …

Q: Will the zakaat be fulfilled if it is given under the pretext of a gift or a loan? A: If the person gave the wealth to the poor person under the pretext of a gift or a loan, but had the intention of discharging his zakaat, the zakaat will …

Q: Is zakaat waajib on the payout received from a provident-fund, pension-fund or retirement-fund? A: If the employee willfully invests his money in the fund or commanded the company to invest it on his behalf or consented to the investment, then in all these situations zakaat will be waajib on …

Q: Is zakaat fardh upon life insurance which matures after the death of the policy holder? A: Zakaat is not fardh upon wealth received from the insurance company after the demise of the policy holder. However, if the wealth was received during his lifetime, then he is obligated to pay …

Q: A person purchased an item for resale purposes but thereafter cancelled his intention. After some time, he decided to once again sell the item. Will zakaat be fardh on the item? A: Zakaat will not be fardh upon the item. However, zakaat will be fardh upon the money received after …

Q: Is zakaat compulsory on the payout received from an insurance company for the previous years? A: Zakaat is compulsory on the payout received from the insurance company for the previous years. However, it should be known that it is only permissible for one to take back the amount he …