Calculating zakaat

Q: I have a question on zakat.

I was supposed to give my zakat this year Ramadan 2020 But till August I have not paid my zakat on gold jewellery of my wife, as I am paying on her behalf. The other zakat on my bank balace I have paid.

Now my questions are:

1. The value of gold in April 2020 in Ramadan in which I calculated my zakat every year was farz, and at that time the value of gold in India was less and not due to lock down or other reason the value of gold has shot up very high. So will I weigh the gold jewellery and pay zakat on the total value of gold 2.5% in the new rate of gold which is in August 2020 or will I have to pay zakat 2.5% on the rate of gold which was in April 2020 in Ramadan this year.

2. Will my wife be liable to pay zakat or I can pay on her behalf from my bank balace?

3. I had some gold jewelley which I purchased few years back and I purchased some jewellery in August 2020 when I married. Now my zakat date every lunar year is on 27 Ramadan. So this year 2020 Ramadan was in April-May 2020. So the jewellery which I purchased in August 2019 last year has not completed 1 (one) complete lunar year so will I calculate my zakat on the particular jewelley or will I calculate after August 2020 as it will complete full one lunar year. But my zakat date is in Ramadan, either I have to take out the zakat on full jewellwey this year 2020. Or I have to pay my the zakat on the particular jewellery which I purchased in 2019 the following year i.e. 2021 in Ramadan. But then it will be over one year for this particular jewelley which I purchased in August 2019. What should I do?

4. Some gold jewelley is of 21 carat and some are of 24 carat so will I have to pay zakat on their differnt value or I have to just weigh it all as one and pay the zakat 2.5% on the total gold jewellery?

5. How would I know that zakat has become farz or wajib upon me? How much money in Rupees do I have to have so that I become saahib e nisaab. Whether it is 20,000/- or 50,000/- or what amount? What is the mark? I am asking the nisab in relation to indian money in Rupees. Not the value of gold or silver as I heard that if one has 612.36 gm of silver or 87.48 gm of gold one is called saahib e nisaab. Suppose I have cash in bank Rs 30,000/- (thirty thousand) - indian money and I have gold jewelley a small ring, a nose pin small, and a silver anklet so now how do I know that I am a saahib e nisaab. As I do not have 612.gm of silver nor do I have 87.48 gm of gold. How do I calculate zakat on this. It is very confusing. 

A:

1. Based on the rate now.

2. She is liable for the zakaat of her belongings and jewellery.

3. If you were sahib-e-nisaab from the Ramadhaan before then the jewellery will be added to your present wealth and zakaat will be paid on it during this Ramadhaan as well.

4. If you are paying in cash then you will calculate according to the value of the jewellery piece.

5. There will be reliable ulama or darul iftaas in your area who will be able to tell you the present nisaab in rupees.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)