Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

1 - My question is that, Can i give zakat to a widow who are paying zakat every year on her only jewelry as it is more than the nissab?

2 - Can i distribute my zakat after some time from the calculation of zakat.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Distribution of zakah

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Q-1 - my question is that, Can i give zakat to a widow who are paying zakat every year on her only jewelry as it is more than the nissab?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60:

60 Alms are for the poor, and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds), for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth), for those in bondage and in debt, in the Cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

Allah Subhanah has prescribed that zakah should be paid to any of the above eight listed categories:

1. To the poor
2. To the needy
3. To those who are employed to administer the zakah funds
4. To those whose hearts have recently been reconciled to the Truth of Islam (new-muslims)
5. For those in bondage
6. For those in debt
7. In the Cause of Allah
8. To the way-farer or traveler

Allah Subhanah has Commanded and Guided the believers that Zakah must be distributed to any of the above absolutely vast eight categories only; for all other categories, one may help them through voluntary and supererogatory charity or sadaqah but not through Zakah funds.

If the sister widow you intend to pay from zakah falls in any of the above eight categories, there is absolutely no harm in helping her from zakah funds. There is absolutely no such condition in Shariah that one who pays zakah cannot be a receipiant of others zakah dues.

If the sister widow is indeed poor, or needy, or in debt, etc.regardless of whether her own net worth is above the prescribed nisaab, she would be eligible to receive from the zakah funds of her believing brethren.

Q-2: can i distribute my zakat after some time from the calculation of zakat.

There is absolutely no condition or stipulation in Shariah that the full amount of ones zakah dues must be paid at one time; what is important is that one choose and set a date of the lunar calendar and determine their annual zakah from that date for a period of one year. If one wills and is convenient for them, they may pay their full zakah due at one time, and if one wills and/or is convenient for them to pay their zakah dues in installments over a period of one calendar year, there is absolutely no harm and no sin.

Under normal situations and conditions, zakah dues are best paid before the completion of the calendar year regardless of whether one chooses to pay it at the time of determination of zakah, or at a later date during the year, or even in installments through the year.but one should strive their utmost, if indeed they fear Allah and the Last Day, to fulfill their zakah obligations during the period of the calendar year.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allahs Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan