Zakah on inherited gold

Question:

My father inherited gold from his mother who passed away. He still has not physically received this gold from his sister who has all of his mothers belongings. Does he have to pay zakah on this gold after the year has passed since his mother passed away and this gold became Inheritance? If he receives the gold, for eg – 5yrs down the line, do all of these years have to be accounted for in regards to paying off Zakah?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-raḥmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

A person who inherits gold is not required to pay zakaah on it until they have received it. Once they receive the gold, they are not required to pay zakaah for the preceding years.^{[1] [2]}

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Answered by: Safwaan Uddin Ahmed

Checked & Approved By:

(Mufti) Muadh Chati

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[1] ^{وأما الدين الضعيف : فهو الذي وجب له [لا] (٤) بدلاً عن شيء، سواء وجب له بغير صنعه كالميراث، أو بصنعه كالوصية، أو وجب بدلاً عما ليس بمال؛ كالمهر، وبدل الخلع، والصلح عن القصاص، وبدل الكتابة، ولا زكاة فيه ما لم يقبض كله، ويحول عليه الحول بعد القبض . (بدائع الصنائع ٣٩٢/٢ دار الكتب العلمية)}

[2] ^{(قال): ولو أن رجلاً ورث عن أبيه ألف درهم فأخذها بعد سنين فلا زكاة عليه لما مضى في قول أبي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالى الآخر. (المبسوط ٤٣/٣ دار الكتب العلمية)}