Question:
Salaam,
If I am owed a debt but I am unsure when it will be paid back to me, am I able to defer paying Zakat until I actually receive the debt and then pay? If so, do I pay zakat for each year the debt was given, or just the year it was received back?
Answer:
As-Selamu ‘Aleykum,
You can either pay zakat for every year that passes until you receive the loan back, or you can wait until you receive the loan and then pay the accumulated zakat in one go.
If you are not sure whether the borrower will be able to pay you back, it is better to delay the zakat payment until you receive it, at which point the zakat accumulated over the years will be payable. If you never receive the money back, no zakat is payable.
Imam Senad Agić
SABAH – Chicago
9920 Grand Ave
Franklin Park IL 60131
