The month of Ramadan is a month of special virtue. It is the month of generous rewards where the blessings of deeds are multiplied. It has been related that 'Uthman even called Ramadan "the month of zakaah". A person can make the month of Ramadan the month in which he pays all of his zakaah. Paying the zakaah all at one time simplifies matters greatly. Otherwise, it is very difficult for a person to determine for all the money in his savings precisely when it came into his possession and then pay the zakaah upon each amount as it becomes due. This is regardless of whether the money or 'zakaatable' goods or valuables have been with the person for a full hijri year or less.
However, when a full hijri year has passed, zakaah becomes due and it must be paid; unless it is the zakaah of agricultural crops, which must be paid on the day of harvesting, because Allaah says:
"but pay the due thereof (their Zakaah) on the day of their harvest" [Q6[al-An'aam]:141)
Zakaah must be paid as soon as one full hijri year has passed, because Allaah says:
"Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord (Allaah), and Paradise the width where of is as the width of the heaven and the earth" (Q57[al-Hadeed]:21)
What is The Nisaab?
Zakaah is payable on gold and silver, dinar [gold currency] and dirham [silver currency]; and by appropriate analogy, cash in its various forms; at the rate of 2.5%. The nisaab [the minimum amount one should possess to make zakaah payable] for gold is 85 grammes or 3 ounces. With the average price of gold at about $470 per ounce, the nisaab for gold is $1,410 or about N200,000. Therefore, whoever has kept N200,000 and above for one full hijri year must pay 2.5% of the amount as zakaah.
As for silver, the nisaab is 595grammes or 21 ounces. Currently, the average price of an ounce of silver is $7.8; thus the nisaab for silver is $164 or N23,350. Therefore, whoever has kept N23,350 and above for one full hijri year must pay 2.5% of the amount as zakaah This is applicable for whoever uses the silver measure as the nisaab in order to increase the number of people who should pay the zakaah or to increase the amount of zakaah that can be shared to the poor.
What If The Wealth is Not Up To A Year?
It is permissible to pay zakaah on wealth that has been in your possession for less than a year. Some scholars have drawn this meaning from the hadeeth where the Prophet (sallaalahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
As for al- 'Abbaas, it (his zakaah) is upon me and the likes of it with it." (Bukhaari)
Scholars explain that al- 'Abbaas had paid the zakaah on his wealth for two years. There is a weak hadeeth that states this meaning more clearly. It reads: "Indeed, we have taken from al-'Abbaas last year the zakaah of this year." [Sunan al-Daraqutm]
In brief, it is permissible for you to pay your zakaah before it becomes due. Indeed, it is permissible for you to pay zakaah for the coming year as well. This may be a good thing to do if the Muslims are in need. A person can make the month of Ramadan the month in which he pays all of his zakaah. He does this by looking at all of the wealth in his possession and paying the zakaah on it.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited