Fatwaa ID: 799

Question:
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

I found out that since 2013 I had been paying ~4x more zakat than I was required to pay due to a misunderstanding. Is it possible to defer the extra to this year and the coming years?

Jazakumullahu khayran

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

Overpayments in zakaah can either be used to offset zakaah of the following year or it can be counted as nafl sadaqah. The latter is more virtuous. In the enquired situation, you will assess your zakaah for this year. Thereafter, you may deduct the extra amount. If there is a balance, then you will pay that. If not, then you do not need to pay anything this year. If there is anything remaining from the extra, you may do the same for next year.

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

08/16/1444 AH – 03/08/2023 CE | AML1-7249

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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