Is Zakat Liable for a Widow With No Income?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I am a widow and don’t have any source of income. I have an amount above nisab, which I have saved for my daughter’s wedding. Is zakat due upon me in my case?

Answer

Yes, zakat is still due upon you due to the fact that you own more than the nisab amount. The poor have a right to part of that money. [Mawsili, al-Mukhtar]

The best thing would be to pay the zakat and turn to Allah for help with your situation. Allah has promised us, “Whatever you spend, He will replace it.” [Quran, 34:39] You’ll be rewarded for it, and Allah will give you more than what you give in zakat-in many ways.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
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.