QA-ID-0047
QUESTION
Do you wait for your zakat date to come and then calculate your zakat? Or can you calculate it a few days in advance and then give it as soon as the date arrives?
If you have to wait until the actual date itself, how long after do you have to pay the zakat? E.g. your date is 1st Muharram, you calculate on that day but you don’t actually give your zakat until 15th Muharram. Is this permissible? Is there a point beyond which you now become sinful for not yet having paid your zakat?
ANSWER
﷽
One can calculate the zakāt in advance of the annual zakāt date and also give zakāt in advance of the annual zakāt date by estimating total zakātable assets at the year end date. However, he must recalculate on the year end date and make sure the zakāt amount he has given prior and the total he used to calculate the zakāt is accurate. If more zakāt needs to be paid, then he must immediately do so.
Zakāt is to be paid immediately on the annual zakāt date. Any delay beyond that date is considered sinful as per the strongest position in the Hanafī school, even if it be a day or two delay (see Radd al-Muhtār).
A person can employ two methods for calculating and paying zakāt:
- Advance Payment: Estimate zakātable assets on your upcoming annual zakāt date and give zakāt regularly throughout the year. Then, on the year end date, check the zakāt amounts given to ensure accuracy. If more needs to be paid, do so immediately. If extra was given, it is included towards next year’s zakāt. Example: If 1 Ramadān 2024 is your annual zakāt date, estimate zakātable assets on 1 Ramadān 2025. Give a portion monthly in zakāt throughout the year into 2025 until 1 Ramadān. On 1 Ramadan 2025, check if the zakāt given matches the zakātable assets. If less, pay the remainder immediately. If extra, include it for next year. This method ensures timely zakāt payment and eases payment through installments.
- Year End Calculation: Calculate the amount on the actual year end date and give zakāt immediately without delay. This method does not allow for paying in installments.
والله تعالى أعلم
And Allāh Knows Best
Muhammad Kalim Misbahi
