Question about Zakat

[Isra]

As salamo alaikome

I had forgot this question when I posted earlier but have since remembered so please forgive my new question post.

I recently moved to Morocco and got married so I was wondering about paying zakat. If the wife is unable to work (in my case because I cant even speak the language and havent a clue about the money and its worth here) is the zakat that her husband pays sufficient for her as well? If not how can she be expected to pay zakat if she is not earning any money and is totally dependent on her husband?

He said that his mother who is also not working gives food and such from the home as charity but Im not really talking about charity and in my case I couldnt do that anyway since I cant even speak the language who am I supposed to give food to???

Im a bit worried because I dont want to do something wrong. Please answer with proof if possible. Thank you so much.

 

[weakslave]

Walykom Assalaam,

I am not sure which zakaat you are referring to! There are two types of zakaat in Islam: Zakaat (poor due, obligatory charity - one of the pillars of Islam), Zakaat eid-ul-fitr (food due to the poor before eid prayer during Ramadan).

http://islamqa.com/en/ref/49632

Zakaat eid-ul-fitr:

Compulsory upon every family member, an obligation upon the family guardian (usually the father/husband). In other words, whoever is providing for/looking after the affairs of a family by spending on them and otherwise, it is an obligation upon him to take out zakaat ul-fitr for each member of that family. This is payable before the eid prayer, and must reach the poor Muslim families in the form of food (approx 3 kilos of dates, barley, raisins or whatever is a staple food for that family). More details: http://islamqa.com/en/ref/49793

Zakaat:

Due upon every person who has possessions of money, gold, silver, certain livestock, stored harvest, and trade goods.

Money is the most common area of concern. Any man or woman who has saved up the amount of nisaab for one Islamic year is required to pay 2.5% of his wealth to the poor. Nisaab is the value of a certain measure of gold or silver. (Up to date rates here: http://www.e-nisab.com/current). Given that the price of silver is much lower than gold, one should go by that estimate which is approximately $400. That is more beneficial to the poor and the needy. More information here:
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/50801
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/2795

If you are in possession of 85 grams of gold or more (nisaab of gold), or 595 grams of silver or more (nisaab of silver), 2.5% of the value is due to the poor as well.

Even jewellery worn or stored that contains pure gold or silver should be measured and evaluated for its value. If it exceeds the nisaab, zakaat is due upon it every year. More information here: http://islamqa.com/en/ref/59866

This is an individual responsibility. No one can pay zakaat on behalf of anyone else without their consent or approval. Meaning, if my wife (theoretical.. ) has savings of $10,000 then she has to keep track of when she acquired that wealth and pay that 2.5% from that $10,000. If I wanted to be nice I could offer to pay that $250 on her behalf but I am not obliged to and technically she should be doing it herself from that accumulated wealth.

As for the other obligations of zakaat then it is best to ask a scholar directly for information pertaining to any of the other types of items on which zakaat is due, or for any additional sources of wealth (e.g. pension plans), money lent (zakaat is due on this as well), and other accumulated wealth.

Zakaat is an important part of our religion. It ensures that one does not horde obscene amounts of wealth without putting it to good use. Imagine if every Muslim in the world gave zakaat every Islamic year as they should, would poor people exist in this world?

It is quite a serious matter that we should understand as far as we are concerned with whatever wealth we are amassing, because we are responsible for the wealth granted to us by Allaah. Anyone who refuses to pay zakaat is like the one who refuses to pray: he is no longer considered a Muslim. Think of money owed as zakaat as money that doesn't belong to you, rather it belongs to someone who is less fortunate than you.

And Allaah knows best. Whatever I said that is sound and correct is from the tawfiq of Allaah, and whatever I said that is wrong is from my own shortcomings and from shaytaan, and I seek Allaah's forgiveness.

 

[Isra]

Walykom Assalaam,

I am not sure which zakaat you are referring to! There are two types of zakaat in Islam: Zakaat (poor due, obligatory charity - one of the pillars of Islam), Zakaat eid-ul-fitr (food due to the poor before eid prayer during Ramadan).

http://islamqa.com/en/ref/49632

Zakaat eid-ul-fitr:

Compulsory upon every family member, an obligation upon the family guardian (usually the father/husband). In other words, whoever is providing for/looking after the affairs of a family by spending on them and otherwise, it is an obligation upon him to take out zakaat ul-fitr for each member of that family. This is payable before the eid prayer, and must reach the poor Muslim families in the form of food (approx 3 kilos of dates, barley, raisins or whatever is a staple food for that family). More details: http://islamqa.com/en/ref/49793

Zakaat:

Due upon every person who has possessions of money, gold, silver, certain livestock, stored harvest, and trade goods.

Money is the most common area of concern. Any man or woman who has saved up the amount of nisaab for one Islamic year is required to pay 2.5% of his wealth to the poor. Nisaab is the value of a certain measure of gold or silver. (Up to date rates here: http://www.e-nisab.com/current). Given that the price of silver is much lower than gold, one should go by that estimate which is approximately $400. That is more beneficial to the poor and the needy. More information here:
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/50801
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/2795

If you are in possession of 85 grams of gold or more (nisaab of gold), or 595 grams of silver or more (nisaab of silver), 2.5% of the value is due to the poor as well.

Even jewellery worn or stored that contains pure gold or silver should be measured and evaluated for its value. If it exceeds the nisaab, zakaat is due upon it every year. More information here: http://islamqa.com/en/ref/59866

This is an individual responsibility. No one can pay zakaat on behalf of anyone else without their consent or approval. Meaning, if my wife (theoretical.. ) has savings of $10,000 then she has to keep track of when she acquired that wealth and pay that 2.5% from that $10,000. If I wanted to be nice I could offer to pay that $250 on her behalf but I am not obliged to and technically she should be doing it herself from that accumulated wealth.

As for the other obligations of zakaat then it is best to ask a scholar directly for information pertaining to any of the other types of items on which zakaat is due, or for any additional sources of wealth (e.g. pension plans), money lent (zakaat is due on this as well), and other accumulated wealth.

Zakaat is an important part of our religion. It ensures that one does not horde obscene amounts of wealth without putting it to good use. Imagine if every Muslim in the world gave zakaat every Islamic year as they should, would poor people exist in this world?

It is quite a serious matter that we should understand as far as we are concerned with whatever wealth we are amassing, because we are responsible for the wealth granted to us by Allaah. Anyone who refuses to pay zakaat is like the one who refuses to pray: he is no longer considered a Muslim. Think of money owed as zakaat as money that doesn't belong to you, rather it belongs to someone who is less fortunate than you.

And Allaah knows best. Whatever I said that is sound and correct is from the tawfiq of Allaah, and whatever I said that is wrong is from my own shortcomings and from shaytaan, and I seek Allaah's forgiveness.

Jazakallah khairan brother for answering my question. Actually I was referring to the obligatory zakat and not the eid al fitr one which I didnt even know about until you mentioned it just now. :shymuslima1:

You answered my question and to my understanding that is if I have no wealth of my own through work or other means then I am not obligated to pay zakat but if I find work or if someone loans me money or if I aquire money from some other means then I am obligated to pay zakat from that money. My husband is not paying zakat for me but since I have no income I am not required to pay it anyway..........is this correct?

 

[Tabassum07]

Sister, you need to have 3 ounces of gold's worth in cash/bank balances/jewelry which has remained with you for a year before you qualify for zakat. If you don't have that much, you don't need to worry. That would be around $3700.

 

[weakslave]

Jazakallah khairan brother for answering my question. Actually I was referring to the obligatory zakat and not the eid al fitr one which I didnt even know about until you mentioned it just now. :shymuslima1:

You answered my question and to my understanding that is if I have no wealth of my own through work or other means then I am not obligated to pay zakat but if I find work or if someone loans me money or if I aquire money from some other means then I am obligated to pay zakat from that money. My husband is not paying zakat for me but since I have no income I am not required to pay it anyway..........is this correct?

That is correct. If you have no savings, there is no zakaah. If your savings exceed $395 USD for one year without decreasing below this, then you should be taking out zakaat on it.

If you lend money to someone, you owe zakaat on that money that you lent out. If you borrow money, there are different scenarios. I will look this up and get back to you.

And Allaah knows best.