Can One Pay Zakat On One Item First, then Others?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

My father had been transferring money into my account for monthly expenditures from which I cater to my and my mother’s necessary expenses. Before, we used to live with him but now separately. I realized that over 5-6 years, I failed to pay zakat on whatever I saved from this money on which a hijri year may have passed. Suppose there was also a debt of the previous year’s zakat on gold jewelry, so if I paid from these savings the zakat on gold jewelry instead, is it valid?

From these savings and whatever my father sends me, can I continue to pay zakat on gold first and afterward pay zakat due on cash savings? I have already done some of this, plus if I remember correctly, I earlier didn’t know I had to pay zakat on cash savings, too.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Zakat is also obligatory on cash in one’s possession and ownership.

The reason for the obligation of paying Zakat is the address of Allah Most High: “(…) establish prayer, pay zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” [Quran, 58:13]

“Pay zakat.” The condition for this obligation of paying zakat is the passing of one year with the wealth remaining in one’s possession, and the wealth being a medium of exchange (thamaniyya) such as dirhams and dinars as they are specified for trade in their original creation; hence Zakat is obligatory on dinar, dirham, gold, silver, and cash in general regardless of why they were held onto, even if one held onto money for the purpose of financial support.” [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

If you have not paid Zakat for the previous years, you need to make a precautionary estimation and pay as much as you can. As you mentioned, you would like to pay for the jewelry; then, you will start paying for the cash. As long as you keep a note of what is owed and how much you have paid, you will be fine.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction, in sha’ Allah.

Related:

• Zakat: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader
• Give Your Zakat & Charity to Support Deserving Scholars & Students
• SeekersGuidance Zakat Calculator

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.