Question. 2: Should Zakat be paid gradually or is there any harm in lump sum payment?
Answer. 2: If he pays Zakat in Advance then the year will not yet have passed, so that the fulfillment of Zakat would become Obligatory. He may be either owner of the ‘Nisaab’ (The Owner of gold of silver or article of trade beyond basic needs for life), but the year has not yet come to an end, or have paid Zakat for the last year and the current year Is not over, clearly than he has the full right to pay little by little. In fact there is no harm in it all, because the fulfillment of Zakat has not become obligatory by that time. It is stated in ‘Durr Of Mukhtar’ that for the fulfillment of the obligation of Zakat, your wealth must be in your possession for the whole year. If Islamic Law doesn’t demand payment from him until then, how can it then demand a lump sum payment? Advance payment is ‘Nafil’ so that one will get more reward due to advance payment when both ‘Nafil’ and ‘Fard’ have been fulfilled. And it is clear that the ‘Nafil’ is not compulsory. But if the year has passed and fulfillment of Zakat has become obligatory than gradual payment is prohibited but rather one must pay the complete Zakat immediately, as according genuine doctrine and justified and reliable verdict, the obligation of Zakat must be Fulfilled at once and delay is a matter of sin.
On the there hand many of our Imams (Religious Chiefs) have made it clear that one who pays the obligation of Zakat late cannot be a witness in an Islamic Court. The same is reported from Sayyidina Imam Muhammad (Rahmatullahi Ta’ala Alaih). Once it is obligatory, the harm of gradual payment is more obvious than the sun and even if he once delays immediate payment, he will become sinful. According to the doctrine of ‘Tarakhi’ (i.e. Whose Doctrine teaches paying at the last moment) this delay is also improper because there are calamities in delay.
Allah Ta’ala says: -
1) “And run toward the Forgiveness of your Allah Ta’ala”(3.3)
2) “Then Desire that you may surpass other in good deeds.”(2.148)
No one knows, of course, when they will die. If death comes before payment, than by the consensus of Muslim Opinion, the deceased will become sinners. If one suffers a financial and bodily accident, who can then protect themselves against Satan when they cannot protect themselves against Satan even when he moves alone with the human blood?. He may deceive, and the intention to pay today may vanish tomorrow. Sayyidina Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqar (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) had a fine jacket sewn. He went to the bathroom, and there he thought of giving it away in the way of Allah Ta’ala. He at once called the attendant. The attendant approached the bathroom. Hazrat took off the jacket and gave it to him and ordered him to give it to such a person. When he came out of the bathroom, the attendant enquired of him respectfully the reason for so much hurry. He asked whether anyone could know whether the intention would change before he came out. Praise be to Allah Ta’ala, this was the caution of a person who was brought up in the cradle of the Verse “Verily over My Bondmen, you (Satan) have no control” and took a bath in the river of the Verse saying “Allah Ta’ala only desires of the members of the family of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) that He may remove from you every uncleanliness and purify you well after thorough cleaning.” And we who are merely a game in the hand of Satan, are so lacking in fear and ready to do Evil!.
I think certain ideas persuade people to pay little by little. Sometimes there comes as idea that they should pay this Zakat at that time is more suitable for the needy person. Sometimes an idea comes to their mind that since the poor persons come in such large numbers, it is the best to keep this money for them and give it to them as time goes by.
Sometimes payment in a lump sum causes a burden on the self and one thinks if it is paid little by little, it will not be felt so much. Those who think this way should pay the due in advance and this is the only way to save themselves from such ideas.
For Example, if the due time is the Ramadan Of 1308 Hijra, they should begin to pay from the Shawwal (10th Islamic Month) of 1307, and go on paying little by little. In this way it may suit their convenience so that may achieve their aims and remain safe from blame and from the prohibition of delay.
Answer. 2: If he pays Zakat in Advance then the year will not yet have passed, so that the fulfillment of Zakat would become Obligatory. He may be either owner of the ‘Nisaab’ (The Owner of gold of silver or article of trade beyond basic needs for life), but the year has not yet come to an end, or have paid Zakat for the last year and the current year Is not over, clearly than he has the full right to pay little by little. In fact there is no harm in it all, because the fulfillment of Zakat has not become obligatory by that time. It is stated in ‘Durr Of Mukhtar’ that for the fulfillment of the obligation of Zakat, your wealth must be in your possession for the whole year. If Islamic Law doesn’t demand payment from him until then, how can it then demand a lump sum payment? Advance payment is ‘Nafil’ so that one will get more reward due to advance payment when both ‘Nafil’ and ‘Fard’ have been fulfilled. And it is clear that the ‘Nafil’ is not compulsory. But if the year has passed and fulfillment of Zakat has become obligatory than gradual payment is prohibited but rather one must pay the complete Zakat immediately, as according genuine doctrine and justified and reliable verdict, the obligation of Zakat must be Fulfilled at once and delay is a matter of sin.
On the there hand many of our Imams (Religious Chiefs) have made it clear that one who pays the obligation of Zakat late cannot be a witness in an Islamic Court. The same is reported from Sayyidina Imam Muhammad (Rahmatullahi Ta’ala Alaih). Once it is obligatory, the harm of gradual payment is more obvious than the sun and even if he once delays immediate payment, he will become sinful. According to the doctrine of ‘Tarakhi’ (i.e. Whose Doctrine teaches paying at the last moment) this delay is also improper because there are calamities in delay.
Allah Ta’ala says: -
1) “And run toward the Forgiveness of your Allah Ta’ala”(3.3)
2) “Then Desire that you may surpass other in good deeds.”(2.148)
No one knows, of course, when they will die. If death comes before payment, than by the consensus of Muslim Opinion, the deceased will become sinners. If one suffers a financial and bodily accident, who can then protect themselves against Satan when they cannot protect themselves against Satan even when he moves alone with the human blood?. He may deceive, and the intention to pay today may vanish tomorrow. Sayyidina Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqar (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu) had a fine jacket sewn. He went to the bathroom, and there he thought of giving it away in the way of Allah Ta’ala. He at once called the attendant. The attendant approached the bathroom. Hazrat took off the jacket and gave it to him and ordered him to give it to such a person. When he came out of the bathroom, the attendant enquired of him respectfully the reason for so much hurry. He asked whether anyone could know whether the intention would change before he came out. Praise be to Allah Ta’ala, this was the caution of a person who was brought up in the cradle of the Verse “Verily over My Bondmen, you (Satan) have no control” and took a bath in the river of the Verse saying “Allah Ta’ala only desires of the members of the family of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) that He may remove from you every uncleanliness and purify you well after thorough cleaning.” And we who are merely a game in the hand of Satan, are so lacking in fear and ready to do Evil!.
I think certain ideas persuade people to pay little by little. Sometimes there comes as idea that they should pay this Zakat at that time is more suitable for the needy person. Sometimes an idea comes to their mind that since the poor persons come in such large numbers, it is the best to keep this money for them and give it to them as time goes by.
Sometimes payment in a lump sum causes a burden on the self and one thinks if it is paid little by little, it will not be felt so much. Those who think this way should pay the due in advance and this is the only way to save themselves from such ideas.
For Example, if the due time is the Ramadan Of 1308 Hijra, they should begin to pay from the Shawwal (10th Islamic Month) of 1307, and go on paying little by little. In this way it may suit their convenience so that may achieve their aims and remain safe from blame and from the prohibition of delay.