When Does the Zakat Year of Newly-Discovered Funds Begin?

Question

The government provided me with a fixed sum of money every month for playing chess for many years. However, I left my homeland (Azerbaijan) and lived in Denmark for an extended period. Upon returning to Azerbaijan for a vacation, I discovered a substantial amount of money on my card, exceeding the nisab (gold) value for about a year or so.

Regrettably, I only became aware of this recently. Should I begin counting from the day I received this information or when my wealth reached the nisab amount? Additionally, I believe that the nisab amount in Azerbaijan is measured using silver, whereas in Denmark, it is measured using gold. It’s important to note that I possess separate funds in both countries.

Answer

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

The year began when the money reached the nisab amount, and you may use the gold standard for nisab, and Allah knows best.

By the mere fact that a full lunar year transpires, i.e., begins and ends while the zakat-payable property is in the owner’s possession, and the poor now own the portion the owner is obliged to pay as zakat. [Misri, ‘Umdat al-Salik]

I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.