Zakat and Special Circumstances

Yes, Zakat is due on gold received as part of a wedding dowry (mahr) if it is in your possession and you are the legal owner. Whether it is kept for sentimental value, stored away, or rarely worn, it is still a zakatable asset. Zakat is not about usage—it’s about ownership and value.

The only exception is if the gold is considered necessary personal jewellery by the standards of your culture, and even this view is debated. The majority of scholars, especially those following the Hanafi school, hold that all gold—whether for personal use or not—is zakatable if it meets the nisab (approximately 87.48g of gold). You must pay 2.5% of the gold’s current market value annually.

For example, if a bride receives 150g of gold as part of her dowry, and she still owns it a year later, she must pay Zakat on it if its value exceeds the nisab. She can either pay in cash based on market value or give gold equivalent to 2.5%.

At Global Helping Hands, we help women calculate their gold Zakat and provide secure channels to fulfil it. Your Zakat is then delivered directly to poor families in crisis-affected areas, helping women and children in real need.

 Yes, you may still need to pay Zakat even if you owe taxes or have unpaid bills. What matters is whether you still possess enough zakatable wealth above the nisab after deducting what you genuinely owe. Like other short-term debts, taxes and bills that are due now or very soon can be deducted from your assets before calculating Zakat.

For example, if you have £10,000 in savings but owe £2,000 in tax and £1,000 in bills, your net zakatable wealth is £7,000. If this is above the nisab threshold, you must pay 2.5% on that remaining amount.

It’s important to remember that future tax liabilities (like next year’s estimate) are not deductible. Only confirmed and due payments count. You also can't deduct lifestyle bills or voluntary spending—Zakat prioritises helping others, not offsetting optional expenses.

At Global Helping Hands, we advise you to make responsible calculations. Our Zakat guides help you include the right deductions without underestimating your obligation. If your final wealth is zakatable, paying Zakat is still expected—even if you have other upcoming expenses.

Yes, Zakat is due on children’s savings if the amount exceeds the nisab threshold, but the responsibility to pay it falls on their guardian or parent. Scholars differ on this issue, but the majority—especially in the Hanafi school—agree that children’s wealth is zakatable because it is owned, not just held.

As a parent or guardian, you must assess your child’s savings every lunar year. This includes gift money, bank savings, or even investments made in their name. If the total reaches the nisab and a full lunar year passes, 2.5% Zakat is due.

The Zakat should be paid from the child’s own wealth. You don’t need to pay it out of your own money unless you wish to do so voluntarily. Make sure to document the payment and keep track annually.

Some scholars allow a delay until the child becomes mature, but most recommend paying annually to protect the child's right and keep the wealth purified.

At Global Helping Hands, we help parents manage Zakat for their children’s savings. Your donation can support young children in other parts of the world—orphans, students, and Syrian Refugees—who live without even basic financial security.

Zakat is not immediately due on wealth you inherit. You only pay Zakat on it once a full Hijri year has passed from the date you received it, and only if it remains above the nisab threshold throughout the year. Inherited wealth becomes zakatable in the same way as other assets—after it is fully in your possession and meets the conditions of ownership.

For example, if you inherit £15,000 on the 1st of Muharram, you will pay Zakat on it only if you still own it (or equivalent wealth) on the 1st of Muharram the following year.

However, if you already had wealth above the nisab before the inheritance, and your Zakat date was already set, the inherited amount is added to your existing zakatable assets and included in your annual calculation.

Inheritance doesn’t receive special exemption. If the assets are in the form of gold, cash, property, or investments, they must be assessed the same way as your other wealth.

At Global Helping Hands, we support those who’ve inherited money and want to fulfil their Zakat with clarity. By giving through us, your Zakat directly supports those with nothing to inherit—families in crisis, orphans, and the displaced.

Unpredictable or irregular income does not exempt you from Zakat if, on your Zakat due date, your total wealth exceeds the nisab threshold. Zakat is based on wealth, not income. Even if your earnings fluctuate—like freelancers, seasonal workers, or commission-based jobs—you must assess what you own at the end of each lunar year.

You should total all zakatable assets on your Zakat date: cash, savings, receivables, gold, investments. If this amount is above nisab, you owe 2.5%. Your income source or its irregular nature doesn’t change the obligation.

If your income is high some months and low others, consider tracking your finances with a monthly log. This helps you anticipate what your wealth will look like on your Zakat date.

If your Zakat becomes difficult to pay in one go due to fluctuating cash flow, you may pay it in instalments—as long as the full amount is cleared. Some people also choose to prepay when income is high.

At Global Helping Hands, we help people in varied financial situations calculate and plan their Zakat payments. Your Zakat supports families who have no income at all—especially in crisis regions like Gaza, Sudan, or Yemen.

Yes, Zakat is still due on long-term investments, even if you cannot immediately access the funds—such as fixed-term savings accounts, pensions, or locked shares—provided they are in your ownership and not lost or disputed. Ownership, not accessibility, is the main condition for Zakat.

The value of these assets must be assessed on your Zakat date. If the investment can be valued and belongs to you, include it in your total zakatable wealth. For example, if you have £20,000 in a 5-year locked investment bond, and you can determine its current value, you must include it—even if you cannot withdraw the funds now.

Some scholars allow flexibility if the value cannot be determined or access is severely restricted. In those cases, you may defer Zakat until withdrawal and then pay Zakat for all previous years retrospectively.

If the investment has increased in value, you are required to pay Zakat on the entire amount, including gains. If the investment generates income (like dividends), Zakat must also be paid on that income if it is still with you on your Zakat date.

At Global Helping Hands, we guide donors in assessing complex investments fairly and accurately. Your Zakat—once calculated and paid—supports people with no access to banking, investment, or income of any kind.

If you lent money to someone and reasonably expect repayment, you are still considered the owner of that money, and Zakat is due on it every year. However, whether you pay Zakat now or later depends on whether the loan is recoverable.

There are two options:

• If the loan is expected to be repaid (e.g. to a friend or relative with a good record), you should include the loaned amount in your zakatable assets each year and pay 2.5%.

• If the loan is doubtful or delayed indefinitely, you may delay Zakat until it is repaid. When you receive the money, you then pay Zakat for all previous years at once.

For example, if you lent £5,000 three years ago and only now received it back, you must pay Zakat on £5,000 for three years—unless it was clearly unlikely to be returned.

Zakat is not due on loans you've forgiven or written off, as you no longer own the funds.

At Global Helping Hands, we advise Zakat payers to keep a record of personal loans and treat them responsibly. Once repaid, you can fulfil this obligation and help others struggling with debt or loss—especially in conflict-affected countries.

If your money is frozen—such as in a legal dispute, blocked account, or held due to government restrictions—you are not obligated to pay Zakat on it until it becomes accessible. In Islam, Zakat is only due on wealth that is fully owned and usable.

Once access is restored, you must pay Zakat for each year the money was frozen, provided it remained above the nisab. For example, if £10,000 in your business account was frozen for three years and you regained access this year, you must pay Zakat on it for the last three years.

If you're unsure of the value during that period, make a responsible estimate and err on the side of caution. Sincerity matters, even if exact records are missing.

If only part of your funds are frozen and the rest is accessible, you pay Zakat on the accessible portion as normal.

At Global Helping Hands, we understand how these financial constraints affect Muslims. We help you calculate Zakat accurately and responsibly, so your duty is fulfilled and your donation reaches those who are suffering real restrictions—like displaced families without any access to money.

Yes, you must pay Zakat even if you're travelling or temporarily living abroad. Being in another country does not exempt you from your Zakat obligation. As long as your zakatable wealth exceeds the nisab and a lunar year has passed, Zakat must be paid on your due date—regardless of location.

Whether you’re a student, worker, or just travelling, your financial responsibilities remain. If you hold cash, savings, investments, or other zakatable assets back home or in your current location, these must be added up and assessed.

It may be more challenging to pay while abroad—due to access, local laws, or limited charity options—but there are reliable international organisations like Global Helping Hands that accept Zakat from Muslims around the world.

You can donate securely online and request that your Zakat be delivered in cash to verified recipients in countries where it’s most needed. We ensure your Zakat reaches the poor in Palestine, Uganda, Syrian Refugees, and other crisis-hit regions, even while you’re away.

If you're facing genuine financial hardship—such as loss of income, medical emergency, or debt—you may be allowed to delay your Zakat, but only if your wealth falls below the nisab or you cannot access your assets.

Zakat becomes obligatory when your wealth is above nisab at the end of the lunar year. If this condition is met, you are required to pay Zakat. Hardship alone does not remove the obligation, but you may be allowed to:

• Delay the payment temporarily until cash flow improves

• Pay in instalments

• Pay from different sources, like assets or valuables

If you genuinely cannot pay, you may delay—but you must make an intention to pay it as soon as you're able. Deliberate delay without a valid excuse is discouraged in Islam.

At Global Helping Hands, we help those in difficulty by offering flexible Zakat schedules. We also support people in even worse hardship—families without food, shelter, or security—making your Zakat a lifeline to someone with less.

If you previously received Zakat because you were poor or struggling, but your situation improves and your wealth exceeds the nisab, you now become a Zakat payer, not a recipient. Your obligation begins once you possess zakatable wealth for one full lunar year.

There’s no shame in this transition. In fact, it's a blessing to go from being supported to supporting others. You are not required to return any Zakat you received earlier, as it was rightfully given based on your situation at the time.

Now, you simply calculate your wealth on your Zakat due date—including any savings, gold, or assets—and pay 2.5% if your total exceeds the nisab.

At Global Helping Hands, we’ve seen many former recipients become donors over time. This cycle reflects the purpose of Zakat: lifting people out of poverty so they can stand on their own and eventually help others. Your contribution continues that cycle of mercy and empowerment.