[overavantstandard]

Well, I would prefer if they just gave a simple yes or no. Jazakallah

[voksveta]

As salamu alaikum

Is it true you have to pay zakat on any credit you have on an Oyster card? What about mobile phone credit? I don't think I ever included that?

I can't find anything on the fatwa sites

Jazakallah.

[Tusethede]

Anyone?

[defenderfors]

As salamu alaikum

Is it true you have to pay zakat on any credit you have on an Oyster card? What about mobile phone credit? I don't think I ever included that?

I can't find anything on the fatwa sites

Jazakallah.

Since you are maliki, I would suggest you get an opinion from a Maliki Sheikh inshAllah.

For those hanafi brothers who may have wondered because of this question. Oyster Card is simply an electronic ticket card for transports. Once you have recharged the card, it is as though you have bought the comodity for personal use (in this case an electronic ticket). There is no zakat on such items of personal use.

The same will aply for a phone credit. It is not money/wealth which one can deal with. Hence there will be no zakat on such credit.

Wallahu A'lam

[makemoneyonli]

Assalaamu 'alaykum,

There is a Maliki group on Facebook, which has students of knowledge and 'ulama on it. Please join the group and ask your query there, insha'Allah:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/108642649171039/

[Jalieteplalry]

Jazakallah akhi imam ghazzali, but I don't use facebook.

The same will apply for a phone credit. It is not money/wealth which one can deal with. Hence there will be no zakat on such credit. Jazakallah khayr. I thought Oyster credit wouldn't count, but with phone credit you can use it to pay for some things. Well, you can use it to donate money to charity, and you might be able to use it to buy other stuff.

Your answer is very helpful, so jazakallah. My dad is hanafi anyway and he says we have to include any phone and oyster credit in our zakat calculations.

[Franchise]

I shall ask the group for a Maliki view on it since you follow the Fiqh of Imam Malik.

I shall post it once it is answered.

[espenijij]

Assalamu 'alaykum sister,

A student of knowledge replied as follows:

An oyster card contains money that is not spent, usable and refundable.

That is not the case with phone credit which is a service or benefit that is prepaid.

The former - especially as it can be in the hundreds of pounds has been considered wealth that is zakatable by some scholars I have spoken with. God knows best. Here is an answer by Mufti Abu'l-Layth al-Maliki:

Zakat is paid on what would be a 'savings account' not a 'current account' In the true meaning of the word.
Once a sum of money reaches the 'Nisab' the clock starts ticking, when 12 months pass by, the overall sum (which must have remained above the nisab) is calculated and 2.5% given as zakat.

Where amounts constantly fluctuate and drop below the Nisab (many current accounts/ chargeable cash cards as mentioned above etc) the zakat timer is only re-activated for another 12 months once it reaches the minimum Nisab again.

I hope that helps in making sense of the topic.

Duas
Ws Just a small advise, if you know your friends or any relatives that do have a Facebook account, you can ask them to join the Maliki Madhhab group and they can post your questions there.

[JeorgeNoxeref]

Okay now I'm more confused than ever.

[WhonyGataxott]

Okay now I'm more confused than ever.

Please tell me what are you confused about so I can ask them for clarification.