ZAKAH ON PROPERTY AND RENTAL INCOME Q: Do I pay zakah on my house or personal car?A: No, if they are for personal use, no zakah is due. Q: What if I’m in real estate and buying/selling houses as business?A: Yes, zakah is due: Q: What about a rental property?A: You pay zakah only on … Read more
TRANSFERRING ZAKAH TO ANOTHER COUNTRY Q: Can I transfer zakah to another country, like back home overseas?A: There is a difference of opinion: Example:Places suffering major crises may be more deserving in urgent times, even if the donor resides in Canada or elsewhere. Allah knows best
Can someone in debt receive zakah? WHO QUALIFIES AS AL-GHARIM (THE DEBTOR) Q: Can someone in debt receive zakah?A: Yes, but not all debt qualifies.A person in debt (al-gharim) is eligible only if: Example:Someone says, “I owe $100,000,” but owns a company worth $600,000.→ He is not considered a true debtor (al-gharim).Someone who went bankrupt … Read more
Can I pay zakah to my parents or children? Q: Can I pay zakah to my parents or children?A: No. It is not permissible to pay zakah to: These relationships involve financial responsibility, so zakah is not valid between them. Wallahu Alam
Q: If I lent money to a businessman and I’m confident he’ll repay me, do I owe zakah on it?A: Yes. Add the amount to your own wealth and pay zakah on the total. Example: If you lent $10,000 and have $90,000 in your own wealth, you pay zakah on $100,000. Q: What if the … Read more
ZAKAH ON THE WEALTH OF A PERSON WHO IS NOT OF SOUND MIND Q: What if someone is mentally incapacitated but owns wealth—does zakah apply?A: Yes, zakah still applies to his wealth. Wallahu Alam
ZAKAH ON LAND Q: I own land intended for business but haven’t sold it in years. Do I owe zakah?A: Yes, you do: This is the opinion of the majority of scholars, though the Maliki school holds a different view. Q: What if the land is for business and I can’t afford yearly zakah due … Read more
ZAKAH ON MERCHANDISE & STORES Q: Do I pay zakah on merchandise in my store even if I haven’t made any profit yet?A: Yes. Even if you haven’t earned revenue, if the merchandise remains for a full year, you are required to: This applies to grocery stores, gas stations, and any business holding salable inventory. … Read more
ZAKAH ON BEHALF OF PARENTS Q: Can I pay zakah on behalf of my father if he refuses to do it himself?A: Only with your father’s permission. Zakah is an act of worship and requires intention. There is a scholarly consensus on this. Q: What if I know how much zakah my father owes and … Read more
What if I voluntarily gave part of my inheritance or money to another heir? Once the money is transferred as a gift, the recipient is now responsible for including it in their zakah calculation. Wallahu Alam
Zakah on lent money Q: Do I have to pay zakah on money I lent to someone else?A: It depends on the financial status of the borrower: Scenario: The borrower is wealthy and capable of repaying Example:If you lent $20,000 and you have $1,000,000 in your account: Scenario: The borrower is struggling or refuses to … Read more
How to calculate zakah on Inheritance Q: How do heirs calculate zakah on inheritance?A: Each heir must: Example:If a person has $70,000 in personal wealth and their share of inheritance is $20,000, they will: Q: What if the inheritance hasn’t been distributed yet?A: If the inheritance remains undivided for a full year, then zakah is … Read more
Zakah on Inherited wealth Q: Does zakah apply to inherited wealth or wealth that has reached the nisab and a full year has passed?A: Yes, zakah is due on inherited wealth as long as it: Wallahu Alam
Zakah on RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) Q1: Do I have to pay zakah on my RRSP or other savings plans like educational savings?A1: Yes, you have to pay zakah if: Q2: But what if I can only access my RRSP funds after many years (like 20–25 years)?A2: If you don’t have full access, zakah … Read more
Zakah on Inheritance 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 … Read more
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: … Read more
Zakah on RRSP & Registered Educational Plans Q: Do we have to pay zakah on a registered educational plan or RRSP? A: Yes, zakah is due if the amount reaches the nisab (around $11,000 CAD) and has been held for a full year, as long as you have access to it. Q: What if I … Read more
Q: What is the meaning of “al-umur bimaqasidiha” and how does it affect rulings? A: It means: “Matters are judged by their intentions.”This principle allows scholars to consider: Does “maqasid” mean intention? Not exactly. So in Arabic: But in usul al-fiqh (Islamic legal theory), this maxim often overlaps with the idea that intention determines the legal ruling of an action — which is … Read more
Q&A Collection: Student Loans, Riba, Mortgages & Halal Finance Dr. Mahmoud Omar Organized by Topic for Clarity STUDENT LOANS & FINANCIAL AID 1. Q: Can a student take a loan just to access attached grants, if they already have enough money? A: Yes, if the loan is interest-free for a set period (e.g., six months) … Read more
Q: If a child pays off their parents’ debts, such as mortgages and car loans, does that make them the owner of those assets? A: It depends on the intention. If the money was given as a gift (hibah) with no expectation of return or ownership, then the asset remains the parents’ property. But if … Read more
1. Q: What is the Islamic concept of hibah (gifting), and how should it be practiced? A: Hibah is giving something to someone without expecting anything in return. It is done sincerely for the sake of Allah. If a person gives a house, money, or furniture and intends no repayment, then it’s a valid hibah. … Read more
Salam Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. Alhamdulillah wa Salatu wa Salam ala Rasulillah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, My dear brothers and sisters, yesterday I received a very concerning email. Someone was accusing all the masajid that pray 20 rak’ahs, 21 rak’ahs with Witr, or 23 rak’ahs of going against the Sunnah. They referenced Shaykh Al-Albani … Read more
I missed fasting during Ramadan due to pregnancy and then continued breastfeeding for two years. Now, I still cannot fast. What should I do? Fasting is an obligation for every Muslim, but Allah does not burden anyone beyond their ability. If you missed Ramadan due to pregnancy and then continued breastfeeding, you are required to … Read more
Can I feed the poor instead of fasting if I miss days in Ramadan? No, you cannot simply choose to feed the poor instead of fasting. If you miss fasting during Ramadan, you must make up the missed days by fasting later. This is an obligation and not a personal choice between fasting or paying. … Read more
Can a Pregnant or Breastfeeding Woman Break Her Fast During Ramadan? QuestionCan a pregnant or breastfeeding woman break her fast during Ramadan? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1. The Shar‘i Context Fasting Ramadan is an obligation upon every accountable Muslim. However, Sharia is built upon mercy and does not … Read more
Does a Dental Appointment Break My Fast During Ramadan? QuestionDoes a dental appointment break my fast during Ramadan? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1. The Shar‘i Context The fast is broken by anything that intentionally reaches the stomach (or what takes the ruling of eating and drinking), and by … Read more