Zakah Calculation Form

Prepared by the Department of Islamic Legal Affairs of Darul Uloom Trinidad and Tobago and other Islamic Scholars

Darul Uloom Trinidad and Tobago

Rashaad Ave, Mon Plasir Road, Cunupia, Trinidad, West Indies.

Tel: (868) 665-8868
Fax: (868) 665-1442

Email: duloom@tstt.net.tt

SECTION ONE - (Non-farming assets)

Guidelines

1. The above form is to be completed at the end of your lunar year for Zakaah.
   (Every Ramadaan or every Rajab etc.)
   
   
2. Minus your current liabilities from your Zakaatable assets to get surplus.
    
   

   Total Zakaatable Assets	=
   Total Current Liabilities	=
   Surplus	=

   
   
3. If the Surplus is equal to or more than the minimum Zakaatable amount which is the value of 19.7 troy ounces of silver, then the entire Surplus becomes “Zakaatable Surplus”. Pay 2 1/2 % of the entire Zakaatable Surplus to the poor as Zakaah.
   (2 1/2 % of Zakaatable Surplus or Zakaatable Surplus x 0.025).
   

The Nisaab or minimum Zakaatable wealth for October 2002 is $1,083.50 T.T. This Nisaab was calculated on 14th October 2002 based on the current price of an ounce of silver.

Note: At the time of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A) 19.7 troy ounces of silver were equivalent to 2.8 troy ounces of gold. As the value of silver in the present time is lower than the value of gold, silver is used to calculate the minimum Zakaatable amount as a means of precaution. (If, however, one has only gold and no other Zakaatable assets, then he will use 2.8 troy ounces of gold as the minimum Zakaatable amount.)


(A-1) Cash on hand and in banks under (A-1) can be applied to one’s earnings, one’s business and rental income. The monies spent during the lunar year from one’s salary or from one’s business for personal needs are not Zakaatable assets.

(A-2) Bad debts are not treated as Zakaatable assets. However, for precaution, one may include them under (A-2).

(A-3) Normally, company shares include the value of fixed assets such as buildings, tools, machinery etc., which are not Zakaatable assets. Therefore, minus the percentage value of fixed assets from the value of company shares under (A-3).

(A-5) The value of gold or silver found in personal jewelry will be placed under (A-5). The value of precious stones and the value of workmanship in personal jewelry are not Zakaatable assets.

(A-6) Under (A-6), “items of trade” include anything that is traded. Example: clothes, building supplies, jewelry, poultry, animals, foodstuffs etc.

(L-1) (L-2) (L-3) Liabilities that are not due at the time of Zakaah calculation, but will be due in future will not be placed under (L-1), (L-2) and (L-3).

SECTION TWO - (Farming Assets - Certain Livestock)

Zakaah will be calculated on livestock such as camels, cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep that graze freely for most of the year and are kept for milk, procreation and fattening. This calculation will be done at the end of every lunar year.

If one had no Zakaatable assets under Section One, then he may apply his current liabilities against the value of the mentioned livestock. The remaining animals will be the “Zakaatable Surplus” whose Zakaah will be calculated according to the relevant following schedules.


The Schedule for the Calculation of Zakaah on Livestock

Sheep and Goats
The Nisaab (minimum number) when Zakaah becomes applicable is forty animals which are more than twelve months old. There is no Zakaah if the number is less than forty.

Thereafter for each additional hundred, a one-year-old sheep or goat must be given as Zakaah.


Cattle and Water Buffaloes
The Nisaab when Zakaah becomes applicable is thirty animals. There is no Zakaah if the number is less than thirty.

Note:
The schedule for camels is omitted, as it is not relevant to Trinidad and Tobago.

Rule (1): Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad are of the opinion that liabilities cannot be subtracted from the value of the mentioned livestock.

Rule (2): If the mentioned types of livestock are owned and kept for the purpose of riding, transportation or meat, then they will not be subject to Zakaah.

Rule (3): There is no schedule of Zakaah for other types of livestock such as rabbits, birds, chickens etc.

Rule (4): If any type of livestock or animals is kept and reared for trade, then such animals will fall under “items of trade” of (A-6) in Section One.

SECTION THREE - (Farming Assets-Crops)

When any crop is beyond 653 kilograms, then Zakaah will be given from that crop. In the case of crops, no debts and no cost of cultivation and reaping will be deducted.

The amount of the crop or its value to be given as Zakaah is:

1. 10 % of whatever the land produced or its value of the land watered naturally by rain water, river water etc.
    
   
2. 5 % of whatever the land produced or its value if the land was watered in the major period of the crop by manual effort; or otherwise incurring a cost such as pumps etc.
   

   ---

SECTION FOUR - (Treasures and Minerals)

1. Treasures - One will pay 20% on the treasure found whether metal or non-metal.
   
   
2. Minerals - One will pay 20% on metal minerals extracted from his mine(s)
   

Note:
According to Imam Ahmad, Zakaah becomes compulsory also upon non-metal and liquid minerals. This view should be adopted for precaution.

GENERAL RULES OF ZAKAAH

Zakaah is a compulsory charity which is paid from one’s wealth with certain stipulations to a deserving person or persons.

In many places in the Quraan, Allah has commanded the Muslims to perform Salaah and to pay the Zakaah.

Zakaah becomes compulsory on Muslims who have reached the age of puberty and who own a certain amount of special types of wealth. Zakaah is a pillar of Islam.

Section Three and Section Four will be applicable to minors also.


What to do with your Zakaah?

1. Zakaah must be given to the poor and needy Muslims.
   
   
2. Zakaah can be given to the authorities of any mosque, organization or institution to be given to the poor and needy Muslims.
   
   
3. Zakaah can be given to needy Muslim students to pursue studies or to any educational institution to sponsor needy Muslim students.
   
   
4. Zakaah can be given to a traveller who has difficulties in his journey to meet his relevant basic needs when he cannot have access to his money at home.
   
   
5. One can use authorized receipts of Zakaah payments for tax relief.
   
   
6. Zakaah cannot be used to build mosques and schools.
   
   
7. Zakaah cannot be given to non-Muslims.
   
   
8. One cannot give one’s Zakaah to one’s parents or children. The same rule applies to grandparents and those in line of ascent as well as grandchildren and those in line of descent.
   
   
9. One cannot give Zakaah to one’s spouse.
   
   
10. Zakaah cannot be given to the descendants of the family of the Prophet Muhammad  (S.A).
    

For further information on the calculation of Zakaah consult the Islamic scholars.

You may also contact Imtiaz Ali at ibali@tstt.net.tt, 663-4541 or 682-1141