Question:
I have two daughters. One is eleven year old, and her menstruation has already begun. The other is only eight and has not yet reached puberty.
I have created bank accounts for each of them separately. Every month I transfer some money to both accounts. Both accounts now have enough money that meets the Nisab amount (the minimum threshold for obligation of Zakah).
I would like to know whether I am obliged to pay Zakah on both of the accounts, or just one of them?
Answer:
الجواب باسم ملهم الصواب
The general principle is that Zakah is obligatory only on Balighs (adults, i.e. those who have reached the age of majority), not on Ghair Balighs (minors, i.e. those who have not reached the age of majority).
In the case mentioned above, you are not required to pay Zakah on the wealth of your eight year old daughter, as she is not Baligh yet.
However, you are obliged to pay Zakah on the total wealth of your eleven year old daughter, as she has reached the age of majority. (Beginning of menstruation cycle is a sign of a girl reaching the age of majority.)
Only Allah the Omniscient Truly Knows
Answered by:
Abdullah Fahim
Imam & Khateeb, Masjid Taqwa
Kyrwicks Lane, Birmingham
21th Sh’aban 1441 AH
احسن الفتاوى: ج 4، ص 277
عن عائشة رضي الله تعالى عنها عن النبي ﷺ قال: «رفع القلم عن ثلاثة عن النائم حتى يستيقظ وعن الصبي حتى يحتلم وعن المجنون حتى يعقل» أخرجه أبو داود والنسائي وابن ماجة ورواه الحاكم في المستدرك وقال: على شرط مسلم
وقال في التنوير: «شرط افتراضها عقل وبلوغ وإسلام وحرية»
وقال في رد المحتار: (قوله: عقل وبلوغ) فلا تجب على مجنون وصبي؛ لأنها عبادة محضة، وليسا مخاطبين بها (راجع: ج 5، ص 420، دار الثقافة والتراث)