[Calluffence]

Salam, I just wanted to know how to pay off my mom's zakat for the past many many years. I do not know when was the last time my father paid zakat. Though he is the most generous of people, sometimes too generous. Worried about our zakat debt, i asked him about it, he said I keep giving a lot of sadaqa, like often he'll pay off some poor guys rent, or buy them ration, or pay for their hospital bills, etc. Now my father doesn't have a steady job, his business went bankrupt many years ago so he is helped by his family, we live very modestly, although our flat is worth a lot in the market. My mom has quite a lot of gold, half of which was sold off by my father some years back. I understand it is my mothers obligation and not my fathers to pay zakat? She doesnt work, so how can she pay it? Also my father doesnt have any spare money left to leave to her, so she can't save up and pay it off. I believe the zakah would amount to near 30k that is just a very very rough estimate. How do we pay it off for all the years???? 30k is a very very big amount for us.

[Suentiend]

Salam, I just wanted to know how to pay off my mom's zakat for the past many many years. I do not know when was the last time my father paid zakat. Though he is the most generous of people, sometimes too generous. Worried about our zakat debt, i asked him about it, he said I keep giving a lot of sadaqa, like often he'll pay off some poor guys rent, or buy them ration, or pay for their hospital bills, etc. Now my father doesn't have a steady job, his business went bankrupt many years ago so he is helped by his family, we live very modestly, although our flat is worth a lot in the market. My mom has quite a lot of gold, half of which was sold off by my father some years back. I understand it is my mothers obligation and not my fathers to pay zakat? She doesnt work, so how can she pay it? Also my father doesnt have any spare money left to leave to her, so she can't save up and pay it off. I believe the zakah would amount to near 30k that is just a very very rough estimate. How do we pay it off for all the years???? 30k is a very very big amount for us.

Pay by selling the rest of the gold. Zakat is farz.

May Allah ease all your problems!

[Calluffence]

i doubt the rest of the gold would equal the zakat debt from so many years. Also, my father has a lot of debts, I dont know what to pay off first, the zakat or the other debts which are becoming a source of great stress for everyone. Should we give out any more sadaqa? or any sadaqa we give we should make the intention of zakat? Also, my parents don't have any savings or assets except for the gold, we are five sisters. Should we work to pay it off slowly or ASAP?

[Suentiend]

i doubt the rest of the gold would equal the zakat debt from so many years. Also, my father has a lot of debts, I dont know what to pay off first, the zakat or the other debts which are becoming a source of great stress for everyone. Should we give out any more sadaqa? or any sadaqa we give we should make the intention of zakat? Also, my parents don't have any savings or assets except for the gold, we are five sisters. Should we work to pay it off slowly or ASAP?

Wait for Mufti to answer.

Insha'Allah tomorrow.

Start paying slowly, insha'Allah Allah will help.

Read the dua which comes in hadith for paying off debts:

اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكْ

"O Allah, save me from haraam and make the halaal sufficient and by your boon/favour make me independent from others".

(Mishkat)
These words were spoken by Ali (R.A.) taught by Prophet Mohammad (SAW.) when a person expressed a shortfall in his wealth to Ali (R.A.) he said: "Shall I not show you what Prophet Mohammad (SAW) taught me, even if there is a debt equal to that of a huge mountain then Allah will pay it". Ali (R.A.) then recited the above dua.

(Tirmidhi)