Zakat: Balances & Nisab

 

Question: What happens in the case below if on the same date the next year his balance is less than the nisab. He wont pay Zakah - yes - but when will he now consider his Zakah date ?

Al-Salam `Alaykum

 Dear Brother,

1. When a mature person becomes the owner of the Nisab amount (e.g. $1200) for the first time his Zakah year begins. Thereafter on the same Islamic date the following year if he still possesses Nisab or more  - notwithstanding any fluctuations in his balance during the course of the year - he must give Zakah for all the wealth he possesses at this time at the rate of 2.5%.

Understand this by way of an example:

24 Ramadan 1423 - A poor person receives $1200 as a gift.     Balance = $ 1200

29 Ramadan 1423 - He purchases something                            Balance = $   900

..
..

New Islamic Year

1 Muharram 1424 - He spends more money                            Balance = $  600

..
..

1 Ramadan 1424 - He earns $ 1000                                         Balance=$ 1600

24 Ramadan 1424 - Zakah Evaluation Date                           Balance=$ 1600

                                Zakah is levied at 2.5% of $ 1600

I hope this helps.

2.  If you are in USA at the time of Eid you must pay the Fitra amount there - not the Pakistani amount.

 Fitra is wajib on every person - on behalf of himself and his minor children that he supports i.e. he must pay for each of them.

The origin of Fitra is the instruction of Rasulullah sallallahu `alayhi wasallam as recorded in many ahadith that half a sa` (a measurement used in those days, equivalent to approximately 3.2 kq) of wheat or a sa` of barley or dates be given. The monetary equivalent of this is the amount that we give in Fitra e.g. $ 10.

The wisdom behind the Fitra is also stated in a hadith recorded  in Sunan Abi Dawud, ibn Majah and al-Darqutni that Hadrat Abdullah ibn Abbas r.a said:

"Rasulullah sallallahu `alayhi wasallam enjoined Sadaqa al-Fitr as a means of purification for the one who had fasted from any vain or obscene (talk or deed); and as a means of sustenance for the poor  ..."

In a narration reported by al-Bayhaqi Rasulullah sallallahu `alayhi wasallam is reported to have said: "Satisfy them (i.e. the poor) so that they do not beg on this day."

And Allah Ta`ala Knows Best

Abu Usamah