Q: Does zakah apply to inheritance money?
A: Yes, zakah applies to inheritance money.
Q: How is zakah calculated on inheritance?
A: Each heir calculates their share of the inheritance and adds it to their own wealth.
Q: What if I haven’t received my share yet, but it’s confirmed?
A: If the inheritance amount is confirmed and has been sitting for an entire year without being distributed, zakah must be paid on it.
Q: Can you give an example?
A: Yes. If someone owns $70,000 and expects to inherit $20,000, he should add the $20,000 to the $70,000 and pay zakah on the total of $90,000.
Q: What if the inheritance money remains undivided for multiple years?
A: Then zakah must be paid on that money every year. Each heir must calculate their share annually, add it to their wealth, and pay zakah accordingly.
Q: What about undivided inheritance like land sitting for years?
A: If it’s not divided and you don’t own it yet, you do not pay zakah. If it becomes your share and you intend to sell it, then you must pay zakah every year it sits. If it’s for personal use, no zakah is due.
Q: When do you pay zakah on land you intend to sell?
A: The moment you decide to sell it, you pay zakah starting from that year. Even if it takes 5 years to sell, zakah is due only in the year you made the intention to sell.