Fatwaa ID: 073
Question:
Hadhrat Mufti Ebrahim Desai Sahib Damat Barakaatuhu
Assalamualaikum
Question:
1- A new resolution was passed by some scholars that it is permissible to give Zakat according to gold Nisaab due to expensis instead of silver although it is rewarding to give Zakat according to silver Nisaab but not compulsory, my question is do you approve the resolution and in normal circumstances for a person living in the USA or England UK is it permissible if he gives Zakat according to gold Nisaab and not silver?
2-Will the Zakat be discharged and valid if given according to the gold Nisaab?
Jazakum Allahu Khayran
Conclusion of the Ulama of American Fiqh Academy
The view of the early jurists[ix] allows an individual to quantify items against the gold or silver niṣāb, and either one suffices. Although a valid principle, one must examine the proper application of maximizing the benefit of the poor in our times. Certainly, obligating additional expenses of zakat, ṣadaqat al-fiṭr, and uḍḥīyyah on a financially distressed individual with minimal wealth, which the silver niṣāb demands, does not appear as the correct approach. Rather, the gold niṣāb spares such individuals these costs and qualifies them as zakat recipients in order to lessen their financial difficulty. Hence, a growing number of contemporary jurists incline toward valuing money against the gold niṣāb.[x]
Nonetheless, if an individual wishes to pay zakat or refuses to accept zakat on the basis of tying the niṣāb of money with the silver niṣāb, then one expects such a precautionary measure to result in reward from Allah Taʿālā.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Abrar Mirza
Mufti Abdullah Nana
Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed
Mufti Sohail Bengali
Dhū al-Ḥijjah 6, 1438 – August 28, 2017
Link to research:
Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The American Fiqh Academy comprises of competent Muftis.
We concur with the resolution taken by the American Fiqh Academy to consider the nisaab of gold to discharge zakaah.
And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best.
Muajul I. Chowdhury
Student, Darul Iftaa
New York, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
10/22/2017
وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين
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