Ruling on paying off debts before calculating Zakah
Q 2: A person has ten sacks of rice or corn, each 75kg. He owed four sacks of them, so only six sacks are kept for him. Is there Zakah (obligatory charity) due on those six sacks. If so, how and when should he pay it: before or after paying his debt?
A 2:
First:
You have to
pay Zakah of rice or corn if it completes the Nisab (the minimum amount on which Zakah is due). The Nisab equals five Wasqs (1 Wasq = 60 Sa`s =130,320 kg) as per that of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and a Sa' equals four moderately filled handfuls.
Second:
The amount which should be given is one tenth on what is irrigated by rain, rivers and the like and one-twentieth on what is irrigated by machines, waterwheels and the like. Zakah must be given only once from the average of the crops at the time of harvest . (Part No. 8; Page No. 48
A 2:
First:
You have to
pay Zakah of rice or corn if it completes the Nisab (the minimum amount on which Zakah is due). The Nisab equals five Wasqs (1 Wasq = 60 Sa`s =130,320 kg) as per that of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and a Sa' equals four moderately filled handfuls.
Second:
The amount which should be given is one tenth on what is irrigated by rain, rivers and the like and one-twentieth on what is irrigated by machines, waterwheels and the like. Zakah must be given only once from the average of the crops at the time of harvest . (Part No. 8; Page No. 48) What has been said is about rice and corn if they are agricultural crops and not commercial commodities. If they are commercial commodities they must be evaluated at the completion of the Hawl (one lunar year calculated from the time a property reaches the minimum amount upon which Zakah is due) and 2.5% of their value must be given. If the rice or corn you bought is for eating and storing, there would be no Zakah due on them regardless of their quantity or the period may be.
Third:
Zakah has to be paid before paying the debts since it becomes due only at the time of harvest.