Question: Can Zakah be paid in advance of it becoming due? For example if my Zakah is due on 1st Shaban can I give some of that Zakah earlier in the year as it becomes requested by Muslim Charities then deduct the amount given from the amount calculated on the Zakah due date.
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Answer:
Yes this is permissible, and you may deduct the amount you paid with the intention of Zakat from the amount which becomes compulsory on the due date. However, money given with the intention of optional charity cannot be deducted.
Yes, it is permissible to pay Zakat early before the due date. However there are some conditions:
Firstly, one should have a due date. The day a person owns the amount of Nisaab, one year after that if he still owns the amount of Nisaab, that date becomes a persons due date. Basically, after Zakat becomes compulsory on him the first time, now he can give Zakat early before the next due date.
Secondly, a person should be the owner of Nisaab at the time of his due date. If a person does not own Nisaab on his due date, then the amount he gave early, cannot be deducted the next time Zakat becomes compulsory on him.
If these two conditions are met, then the amount given throughout the year, with the intention of Zakat, can be deducted from the amount which becomes compulsory on the due date.
وَيَجُوزُ تَعْجِيلُ الزَّكَاةِ بَعْدَ مِلْكِ النِّصَابِ، وَلَا يَجُوزُ قَبْلَهُ كَذَا فِي الْخُلَاصَةِ. وَإِنَّمَا يَجُوزُ التَّعْجِيلُ بِثَلَاثَةِ شُرُوطٍ أَحَدُهَا أَنْ يَكُونَ الْحَوْلُ مُنْعَقِدًا عَلَيْهِ وَقْتَ التَّعْجِيلِ. وَالثَّانِي أَنْ يَكُونَ النِّصَابُ الَّذِي أَدَّى عَنْهُ كَامِلًا فِي آخِرِ الْحَوْلِ. وَالثَّالِثُ أَنْ لَا يَفُوتَ أَصْلُهُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا كَانَ لَهُ النِّصَابُ مِنْ الذَّهَبِ أَوْ الْفِضَّةِ أَوْ أَمْوَالِ التِّجَارَةِ أَقَلَّ مِنْ الْمِائَتَيْنِ فَعَجَّلَ الزَّكَاةَ ثُمَّ كَمَّلَ النِّصَابَ أَوْ كَانَتْ لَهُ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ أَوْ عُرُوضٌ لِلتِّجَارَةِ قِيمَتُهَا مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ فَتَصَدَّقَ بِالْخَمْسَةِ عَنْ الزَّكَاةِ وَانْتَقَصَ النِّصَابُ حَتَّى حَالَ عَلَيْهِ الْحَوْلُ وَالنِّصَابُ نَاقِصٌ أَوْ كَانَ النِّصَابُ كَامِلًا وَقْتَ التَّعْجِيلِ ثُمَّ هَلَكَ جَمِيعُ الْمَالِ صَارَ مَا عَجَّلَ بِهِ تَطَوُّعًا هَكَذَا فِي شَرْحِ الطَّحَاوِيِّ. (هندية 1/176)
And Allah is All Knowing