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 (e.g., Yemen, Sudan) may be more deserving in urgent times, even if the donor resides in Canada or elsewhere.
WHO QUALIFIES AS AL-GHĀRIM (THE DEBTOR) Q: Can someone in debt receive zakah?A: Yes, but not all debt qualifies.A person in debt (al-ghārim) 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-ghārim).Someone who went bankrupt and genuinely cannot repay is … Read more
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.
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 … 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.
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 … 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 … 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 … Read more
Q: If I lend money to many people, do I pay zakah on those loans?A: Yes—only if the borrower is capable of repaying.There is consensus (ijma’) among scholars that if the debtor can repay, you must pay zakah on that money each year.
A: Once the money is transferred as a gift, the recipient is now responsible for including it in their zakah calculation.
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 pay (broke or … Read more
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 still due. Q: What if … Read more
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:
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 is calculated based on the accessible portion … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 don’t have full access to the RRSP? … Read more