Missed or Unpaid Zakah in Previous Years
Q: We didn’t know about zakah and haven’t paid it for 10 years. What should we do?
A: If someone didn’t pay zakah due to lack of knowledge for the past 10 or even 20 years, they still have to pay it.
Q: Even after 20 years?
A: Yes, zakah is a debt. It is a right of Allah in your money, and it must be fulfilled.
Q: Can I just ask Allah for forgiveness and move on?
A: No, that is not sufficient in the case of zakah. Zakah is a financial obligation that benefits the poor, so it must be paid retroactively.
Wallahu Alam