Is It Necessary to Pay Zakat in One Lump Sum, or Can We Spread It Out over Several Days?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I normally tend to pay Zakat during Ramadan. However, do we need to pay our Zakat all in one day? Can it be spread throughout Ramadan or even 2/3 days?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Yes, the payment of Zakat can be spread over the duration of Ramadan or less. Once Zakat is due, it needs to be paid before a lunar year expires. Therefore, spreading it over a few days within that year is permissible. [Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar]

Hastening Good Deeds

It’s generally a good idea to perform good deeds as soon as you can. Who knows when death or one of the other obstacles to good actions will come?

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Benefit from five things before five other things [happen]: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you’re busyness, and your life before your death.” [Hakim]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.