Fatwa ID: 06630

Answered by: Maulana Mamunur Hussain

Question:

If one is living abroad and most of their sustenance is coming from the parents (they send it for a certain time period like a year so that the threshold for zakat is met) and some from working part-time. Then does one need to pay Zakat?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Zakah is one of the obligations due upon every Muslim who is an adult, sane and free¹, they must also be in possession of wealth which meets the minimum nisab level and be in possession of that wealth for a year.

One should deduct their necessities, such as rent and living costs, there is no zakat upon property that a person lives in and furniture therein, as well as clothes² and any other necessity that they need day to day from their wealth.

As the amount you are getting from your parents is specifically for rent, you can deduct this amount from your nisab calculation, if thereafter you do not meet the threshold you do not need to pay, if you do then zakat will be necessary.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Mamunur Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

1 Mukhtasar al-Qudoori (DKI, pg 51)

الزكاة: واجبة على الحر المسلم البالغ العاقل إذا ملك نصابا ملكا تاما وحال عليه الحول وليس على صبي ولا مجنون وال مكاتب زكاة

2 Mukhtasar al-Qudoori (DKI, pg 51)

ومن كان عليه دين يحيط فلا زكاة عليه

وإن كان ماله أكثر من الدين زكى الفاضل إذا بلغ نصابا وليس في دور السكنى وثياب البدن وأثاث المنازل ودواب الركوب وعبيد الخدمة وسلاح الاستعمال زكاة