Paying the Zakah in advance before the completion of the Hawl

Q 2: Is it permissible for a person to pay Zakah (obligatory charity) before the passing of a Hawl (one lunar year calculated from the time a property reaches the minimum amount upon which Zakah is due)? In other words, before `Eid-ul-Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice), my mother gave a sum of money to one of her relatives in order to enable him to buy Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims). She said to me (Part No. 8; Page No. 322) that she intended to make it of the Zakah due on her upon the passing of the Hawl, which is the Day of `Ashura’ (10th of Muharram). Thus, at this time she would deduct this sum that she paid to her relative from the total sum of Zakah. What is the religious ruling in this case?

A: It is permissible to pay the Zakah in advance before the passing of the Hawl. What your mother did is acceptable provided that she intended the sum paid to be of her Zakah.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.