Is zakat obligatory on the maintenance deposit for real estate?.. Al-Azhari scholar explains

11:33 PM

Sunday 05 January 2025

Written by Ali Shibl:

Dr. Attia Lashin, professor of Sharia and member of the Fatwa Committee at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, revealed the ruling on zakat on the maintenance deposit for real estate. He received a question from a person who said: We are an association of owners of one of the buildings. We deposited an amount estimated at two hundred thousand pounds in the bank to spend on the building and its facilities. The question is whether Is zakat due on this amount?

In his response, the Al-Azhar scholar explained that in order for zakat to be obligatory for the rich, conditions must be met, including the following:

1- Islam because zakat is an act of worship and worship requires an intention, as our master Muhammad, the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: (Actions are but by intentions) and no intention is taken into account by Islamic law from a non-Muslim.

2- Among them is that the rich person is free. If the rich person is owned, then no zakat is obligatory on him.

3- Among them is that he is a complete owner of the money. If his ownership of the money is threatened with disappearance and is subject to destabilization and instability, then he does not have to pay zakat on this money.

4- It goes without saying, as we mentioned, that the money is a quorum that is in excess of the original needs of its owner and the needs of those who were their breadwinners.

Regarding the incident of the question, Lashin said, in a statement of his fatwa on his official Facebook page, that zakat is not obligatory on this amount, which was intended to be withheld and endowed to be spent on building facilities so that residents can ensure continued use of these facilities to the fullest and most complete extent. However, zakat is not obligatory in This money is because one of the conditions for the obligation of zakat is that the zakat money be owned by a specific person. If its ownership is in public entities, such as money that is donated to be spent on the poor, mosques, or… Hospitals, as well as money owned by the Bayt al-Mal, i.e. the Ministry of Finance now, as well as the money in question, there is no zakat on it because it is allocated to the interests of Muslims.. This, and God knows best.

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