Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam, an act of worship performed to please Allah Almighty and draw closer to Him by spending money in the ways He has prescribed for His servants. Allah says: “And establish prayer and give zakat and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].”
This article discusses an important aspect of zakat: the installment payments of Zakat al-Mal in Islam, and the rulings related to its disbursement.
Ruling on Dividing Zakat al-Mal into Separate Installments
It is not permissible to divide Zakat al-Mal into installments unless there is a reason or necessity. Once zakat becomes obligatory on wealth that has reached the nisab, it must be paid in full to its rightful recipients, the poor and needy, and it should not be delayed so that the poor can receive their full right from the wealth.
Zakat is considered a debt in the liability of the payer to Allah Almighty and must be paid in full as soon as it becomes obligatory; it must be paid fully without any delay or procrastination as commanded by Allah Almighty.
Al-Shirazi stated in Al-Muhadhab: “For whom zakat becomes obligatory, it is not permissible for them to delay it, as it is a right that must be directed to the person, and the demand for payment is directed at them, thus they are not permitted to delay.”
Cases Where It Is Permissible to Pay Zakat al-Mal in Installments
Paying Zakat al-Mal in installments is permissible in the following two cases:
- It can be expedited if the payer disburses money monthly to the poor and needy with the intention of zakat, then totals it by the end of the year from the zakat-eligible funds; if the amount disbursed throughout the year reaches the zakat amount, it is permissible with the intention of zakat.
- If disbursement in installments is done due to a valid reason or excuse; such as waiting for a near poor person to send them the money, or the money that must be disbursed as zakat is not available, or there is no zakat channel available in the country where they live.
How to Disburse Zakat al-Mal and its Channels on Installments
The payer can disburse Zakat al-Mal in installments in one case: disbursement before it becomes obligatory; this falls under the category of expediting the disbursement of zakat, which is permissible in Islam.
Thus, they can disburse Zakat al-Mal in monthly installments, such as providing a monthly allowance to a poor family, and when zakat becomes obligatory, calculate the money disbursed throughout the year; if it reaches the amount of zakat, i.e., the amount that must be disbursed from the zakat money, then it is good, and if not, the remainder must be disbursed upon completion of the lunar year.
Zakat al-Mal can be disbursed in the channels prescribed by Allah Almighty, which are for the poor, the needy, those who collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, for freeing captives, the debt-ridden, in the cause of Allah, and the wayfarer.
These are the channels for disbursing zakat, so if the Muslim’s zakat money is only available in installments; it is permissible to disburse it as such, but if the full money is available; then it is obligatory to disburse the full amount of zakat.
Masarat Initiative for Education and Empowerment in Syria
Due to the war in Syria, an entire community of women has been deprived of education for years due to early marriage, forced migration, extreme poverty, and displacement. They have had to prioritize caring for their families amid harsh living conditions. Nonetheless, hundreds of them still dream of returning to school.
The Masarat initiative offers free remote education to this segment of the community, through school education, student activities, and practical skills development on our user-friendly online platform, ensuring convenience and flexibility.
Your zakat donations pave the way for the rise and empowerment of women in society, preparing them educationally to be capable of educating and raising their children, and with the rise of women, a more enlightened and aware society is formed, fostering a future built on awareness and knowledge.
Your contribution is not just an investment in the future of these women; it is an investment in a brighter and more equitable future for all.
