Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Jazakkam Allah Kharan for clearing all my doubts. May Allah bless you in this world and here after.

one qustion again i build that house before 15 years ago and i wont be able to pay the zakah for all those years. Is it posible if i repent Allah for the mistake.

 

Jazakkam Allah.

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Unpaid zakah for 15 years

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Respected brother, if you built the house with the intention to live in it yourself, then absolutely regardless of how long you might have owned the house or how much the house is worth, you have to pay no ‘zakah’ on that house; for a house one lives in oneself is exempt from ‘zakah’ in Shariah Law.

 

But if the house bought or built was intended as an investment, or for rental, or to derive any commercial benefit…..then indeed you would be liable to pay ‘zakah’ annually on market value of that house.  If perchance you had bought or built the house as an investment and have not paid its ‘zakah’ for the past 15 years, you will be liable to pay its ‘zakah’ for the 15 years……..‘taubah’ and repentance alone will not clear your debt and your duty unto your Lord.  The ‘taubah’ or repentance or atonement of one who has not paid one’s due ‘zakah’ for 15 years is to do so now.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan