Fatwaa ID: 946

Question:
Assalamu alaikum
I understand it was mentioned previously that zakat must be given on the same date every year and that a person must pick a specific date to give it and stick to that date every year. My question is that some people choose to send their zakat money back home and send it through a third person. It takes time and is a difficult process of finding a reliable person every year to hand our zakat money to so that they can give to the needy back home when they reach there. And sometimes it takes time to find a person who is eligible for zakat. This means that it’s not always possible to give our zakat money on the same date every year because of this process. What would be the rule for us in this situation?

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

One must assess and calculate his wealth for zakaah on his zakaah date. The money should then be set aside and he should try to have it distributed as soon as possible without any unnecessary delay. It will be ideal to have it distributed on that same day. A few days here and there that goes in sending the money or identifying an eligible recipient will be overlooked. Planning ahead of time will assist in ensuring timely payment.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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