Fatwa ID: 01355

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

I never fix the day for paying off Zakaah but I keep on giving some amount after a week or two intending it as Zakaah which is or may be due on me.
But I do not calculate how much amount exactly due on me to discharge as Zakaah nevertheless I keep on giving some amount every week or after two weeks and I am 100% sure that I’m giving more than what is liable on me.
Under such circumstances will my Zakaah be discharged or I MUST calculate the exact amount of Zakaah & then discharge it by giving out the exact amount due?

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Zakat is calculated according to the lunar year and not the solar year. (Aapke Masaail p.362 v.3)

Zakat is considered obligatory from the date that he became the owner of the nisab from the previous year. (Fatawa Darul Uloom Deoband p.75 v.6) On that day all the zakatable wealth one has, zakat will have to be given on that amount at any time, the sooner the better. (Ahsanul Fatawa p.255 v.4)

From the aforementioned rulings we can derive that whatever amount you have to give at the end of that lunar year only that amount is obligatory. There is no need for you to give anything extra in zakat. Then the extra amount gained within the few weeks of the next zakatable year will be calculated with next year’s zakat. 

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.