Zakaat

Q: My sister and the former husband abandoned three kids and are now cared for by my parents. They have grown and are on the brink of their teenage years. My parents who have cared for them have now almost retired. I help where I can but is not always able to help fully. I have zakaah due to be paid in the coming month. My questions are:

1. Can I pay zakaah to my parents to cover for their (nieces and nephew) needs?

2. If so, can I give all my zakaah to them or only a portion.

Q: I have shares with my company. I have held an x amount of shares for an entire year. This year the share value is unchanged from last year. Is the zakaah due still 2.5% on the value of all shares held by myself? Please advise.

Q: For zakaat, the cash is totaled up and 2.5 % is to be paid, but gold jewellery and silver are they separate? For example, someone has gold above the nisaab amount, they evaluate its worth and separately, calculate 2.5 % from its worth, or do they add its worth to the cash total and pay 2.5 % on the lump sum? Or do the cash amount and gold amount separately?

Q: I have relatives who were not on the straight path and ignorant about Islam and now I want to help them to do their zakaat, so I have a number of questions.

1. How do we calculate a date for Zakaat? They're both above the Nisaab. Do we calculate via picking a new date or by estimating when they last went above the threshold for zakaat?

2. How should the zakaat of the past years be calculated? From what starting point?

3. If one has a debt, but has money that is above the threshold amount, must he pay zakaat? But if the debt is paid then he will be below zakaat, will he be obligated to pay zakaat still if he doesn't pay the debt for a year?

4. How is Zakaatul Fitr paid and is it Fardh?

5. Is zakaat due on inheritance?

Q: Do I need to pay zakaat on deposit money I have paid towards going for Hajj next year?

Q: I was always thought that zakaat is paid on jewellery irrespective of whether it is used or not. Recently few people have insisted that no zakaat is paid on jewellery if it is being used. They claim you only pay on jewellery not used more than a year. Is this true? Please clarify so I can correct them.

Q: From the information I had available to me, I thought a sum of money was haraam interest. I gave this money to the poor without the intention of reward. I was later informed by the bank that in fact no interest was accruing in my account. I therefore gave out halaal money without the intention of reward. Will Allah Ta'ala still reward me despite the intention made at that time?

Q: Last couple of months my wife is very sick and I would like to give out Sadaqa. My question is 1:-What intention I must make? 2:-Can I give this Sadaqa to poor Non Muslims?

Q: Can sadaqah and lillah be given to non-Muslims?

Q:

1. I invested some money in a company. Unfortunately, the company was a fraud. Government possessed all investments and it is still under investigation. Money is not in my possession any longer. Do I have to pay Zakaat on this?

2. I've loaned out money to a few people. No one has paid me back as yet. Do I have to pay Zakaat on this?

3. Do I have to calculate exactly 2.5% Zakaat or can I give more than this as Zakaat?