Fatwas Regarding Women

Question: How does one pay Zakat on jewelry that is not simply gold but is gold with precious stone inlays? Does one also include the weight of those stones since it would be very difficult to remove the gold and weight it by itself?

Response: Gold is the thing upon which Zakat must be paid, even if it is simply for wearing. As for the precious stones, such as pearls, diamonds and so forth, there is no Zakat on them. If a necklace, for example, has both gold and these other stones, the woman, her husband or guardian then must ponder the matter and try to estimate the amount of gold or give it to an expert to estimate it. It is sufficient to be fairly certain about the matter [and one need not be exact]. If the amount of the nisab is reached, Zakat must be paid. The nisab is twenty mithqaals.. which is ninety-two grams. The Zakat is to be paid every year [once a year]. The amount is 2.5%. For example, on one thousand, a person pays twenty-five. This is the correct opinion among the views of the scholars. If the jewelry is for business purposes, then one pays Zakat on all of it, including pearls and diamonds, according to their [market] value, which is the same with all types of merchandise goods. This is the opinion of the majority of the scholars.

Shaikh ibn Baz

Question: I sold gold [jewelry] that I used to wear for some time but I did not pay zakat on it. I would like from you to make it clear to me what I should do about its zakat, given that I sold it for four thousand riyals.

Response: If you did not know that you had to pay Zakat on it until after you had sold it, then there is nothing that you must do. However, if you knew that you had to pay Zakat on it, then you should pay 2.5% per year. You should pay that for each previous year according to the value of gold in the marketplace. You must pay 2.5% in cash. However, if you did not know about that until the last year, then you should pay Zakat just for the last year.

Shaikh ibn Baz

Question: Is it allowed for my husband to pay the Zakat on my wealth on my behalf, given that he is the one who gave me the wealth? Is it allowable to give the Zakat to my nephew, whose wife passed away and he is a young man who is thinking about getting married?

Response: Zakat is obligatory upon your wealth, if you have the nisab or more of gold, silver or other forms of zakatable wealth. If your husband, with your permission, pays it for you there is no harm. The same is true if your father, brother or others, with your permission, pay it on your behalf. It is allowed for you to pay the Zakat to your nephew to help him get married if he not able to support himself.

Shaikh ibn Baz

Question: Can a wife pay the Zakat on her jewelry to husband given that he receives a salary of about 4,000 riyals is in debt 30,000 riyals?

Response: There is no harm in a woman paying the Zakat of her jewelry or other Zakat to her husband if he is poor or is in debt and he is not able to pay off the debt, according to the strongest of the opinions among the scholars. This opinion is based on the generality of the evidences, including Allah's statement,

"Zakat are only for the poor and the indigent..." (al-Tauba 60).

Shaikh ibn Bat

Question: Is it allowed for a person to give his zakat to his own mother?

Response: A Muslim may not give his Zakat to his parents or to his children. But, in fact, it is obligatory upon him to spend on their behalf from his own wealth if they are in need of it and he has the ability to spend on their behalf.

Shaikh ibn Baz

Question: I have a large number of household utensils [silverware and dining ware] for use on a daily basis as well as for regularly guests and some others for special occasions. I use these many utensils instead of borrowing them from others or renting them, as sometimes one gets dirty or old utensils that one cannot use in any social setting. I keep my utensils in a cabinet in my home. If my neighbors or relatives ask to borrow them, I give it to hem, trying to help them.

During a sisters' meeting, I heard one of the sisters say that a person is going to be held accountable for everything that he leaves behind, including household utensils. She said that we will be punished by them if we leave them behind and they will be heated and will brand us on the Day of Resurrection. Please assist me, may Allah assist you. Should I give them away in charity and then borrow from the people for special occasions or should I keep them and pay Zakat on them or is there no zakat on them or what should I do?

Response: There is no harm in what you have mentioned. There is no Zakat on such household utensils, since they are not for sale but are for need and for lending out. The one who told you that possessing such utensils is not allowed is an ignorant, mistaken person. He¹ has said something about Allah and about Allah's religion without knowledge. He must repent from that sin and be careful and avoiding making fatwas without knowledge. Allah has stated in stern words that such is forbidden. Allah has stated,

"Say: The things that my Lord has forbidden are great evil sins, whether committed openly or secretly, sins [of all kinds], unrighteous oppression, joining partners with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge" (al-Araf 33).

In a separate verse, Allah has stated that making statements about Allah without knowledge is something that Satan orders and requests. This is in Allah's words,

"O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the Earth, and follow not the footsteps of Satan. Verily, he is to you an open enemy. [Satan] commands only what is evil and sinful, and that you should say about Allah what you know not"

(al-Baqara 168-169).

Shaikh ibn Baz

Footnote

1. The answer states "he" but the question was clearly in reference to a "she".-JZ