Zakat: Two Wives & More

Question: There is a situation where a man has two wives. He gives a some money to one wife who has a separate residence and she is unable to support herself and her two children with this amount. Furthermore the man is also supporting another wife who has one son by him. It is not know what his salary or savings are. The wife with 2 children has some gold jewellery which was gifted to her by her father upon her marriage. As far as zakaat is concerned she is unable to save any money and sometimes can't make ends meet. Now is she required to pay zakaat for her jewellery, and if not , is she obliged to sell said jewellery in order to have more funds to meet her expenses? Her husband does not live with her full time, and she is in a very difficult financial situation? Is she eligible for zakaat even if she has gold jewellery which may be worth more than the minimum amount of money which one must have in order to pay zakaat?

Al-Salamalaykum

It is the duty of the husband to see to the needs of both his wives and their children. It is wrong for him to neglect any one of them. The Shari `ahdemands equal treatment of wives.

Nevertheless,  sincethe wife with 2 children has jewellery valued at more than the nisabamount she is NOT eligible for zakah. She also has to pay zakah on the gold she possesses. Gold and Silverhave intrinsic value and are always zakatable.

[Faraz notes: in order to be zakat-eligible, she can simply transfer the ownership of her jewelry to one of her children. In the Hanafischool, children do not have to pay zakat before puberty (bulugh)]

And Allah Ta`alaKnows Best

Abu Usamah