Fatwaa ID: 980

Question:
Assalamualaikum, do you have to pay zakat if unemployed?

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

Zakaah is not dependent on whether a person is earning an income or not. Zakaah is based on the zakaatable assets a person owns. Hence, even though you are unemployed, your zakaatable assets will be assessed on your zakaah date. This includes cash in hand, bank balance, pocket or spare change, savings, gold, silver, investments, stocks, cryptos, most retirement funds, trade goods, etc. If the total reaches or exceeds the nisaab, then you will pay 2.5% of the total. If it is less than the nisaab, then you do not pay any zakaah.

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

09/05/1444 AH – 03/27/2023 CE | AMG3-3579

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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