Q: The following is an usool question which I would like clarity in. I told the brothers they could pay zakaat earlier then the time it is due. For example Ramadan is in a week so give it now to benefit the poor. The people said it makes no sense. They said, then why can I not fast a month earlier. Why can I not pray Salaah a day before? Is it true that we can give zakaat earlier because it is to benefit the poor? Can you please help me answer this brother?
A: In matters of Deen, we all depend on the Qur’aan, Hadeeth and the statements of the Fuqahaa. According to their statements, it is permissible to pay zakaat before the due date. Hence, this will be a futile exercise to employ reasoning against their statements. They do have very sound intellectual reasoning for these masaa’il but this reasoning is more easily understood by scholars and experts.
( ولو عجل ذو نصاب ) زكاته ( لسنين أو لنصب صح ) لوجود السبب ( الدر المختار 2/293, نور الإيضاح ص154)
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)