Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Karim Yahya, SunniPath Academy Teacher
Does a Shafi’i have to give zakat on unused gold? My parents have brought me gold and kept them until I get married but have never given zakat on them.
1) Do I need to pay zakat on them?
2) If so, do I have to give zakat on all the years that I missed not giving zakat on them?
In The name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Zakat does not have to be paid on permissible gold and silver jewelry, as opposed to forbidden or offensive (makruh) jewelry, because it is made to be used so it is similar to household objects. This is the case even if it goes unused for a period of time as long as it is not intended as saved wealth. An example of jewelry which is not permissible is excessively large jewelry such that it is no longer considered an ornament, rather it becomes distasteful.[1] So as long as this jewelry is not excessive you should not owe zakat on it because it was acquired for your use after marriage which is permissible. And Allah knows best and He alone gives success (tawfiq).
[1] See: Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, Hawashi al-Sharwani Wa Ibn Qasim al-Abbadi ‘Ala Tuhfah al-Muhtaj Bisharh al-Minhaj (Beruit, Dar Ihya’ al-Turath al-‘Arabi), 3:270-273 and 3:280.