FatwaFederal TerritoriesZakat
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-374: HUKUM MELAKUKAN HELAH DARI KEWAJIPAN ZAKAT
What is the ruling on a person with wealth above the nisab who gives it to relatives before the haul is complete so as to avoid paying zakat?
Short answer
Transferring wealth before the haul is complete with the intention of avoiding zakat falls under a prohibited legal stratagem (hilah).
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Zakat
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Transferring wealth before the haul is complete with the intention of avoiding zakat falls under a prohibited legal stratagem (hilah). The ruling is that it is forbidden and sinful, because the stratagem is used to achieve a bad purpose, namely escaping the obligation of zakat. Zakat is obligatory on wealth that has reached the nisab and completed the haul, and one who refuses to pay out of miserliness while knowing the obligation is considered a transgressor (fasiq) and sinful.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Maka, hukum melakukan helah sedemikian adalah haram dan berdosa.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-374: HUKUM MELAKUKAN HELAH DARI KEWAJIPAN ZAKAT”, 20 January 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/4029-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-374-hukum-melakukan-helah-dari-kewajipan-zakat. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-evading-zakat-through-legal-stratagem/