how do i calculate zakaat on a blocked savings account

how do i calculate zakaat on a blocked savings account

Question:

I have my salary account in one of the banks in China with all my savings in it. And the zakah is wajib and is paid every year Alhamdulillah.
From last year the account is blocked due to my passport expiry in their system which means i need to visit the branch physically with my latest passport ID in order to unblock it.
Now I am not sure when I can visit China due to the fact that their borders are closed due to Covid. there is no timeline and visas are not being processed.  
Can I pay the zakah on the amount after the account is unblocked and the funds become accessible?
Last year zakah on those funds were paid although they blocked my account in june 2020.
Pls educate me on this
Jazakallahu khairun

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

According to Shariah, if one possesses the nisaab (quantum) amount of Zakat and one’s liabilities do not exceed one’s assets, then Zakat is obligatory on such a person. Moreover, Zakat is calculated on Zakatable assets which are in one’s ownership. The standard Nisab amount is 20 Mithqals which translates to 87.48 grams of gold or 200 Dirhams which is equivalent to 612.36 grams of silver or the equivalent in the present value of cash. One can procure the latest Nisab value from one’s local Islamic organization. One’s personal belongings (Hawa’ije Asliyyah) do not form part of one’s Zakatable assets. Moreover, if one’s wealth decreases below the Nisab threshold during the year but equals or exceeds the Nisab amount at the end of one’s Zakat year, then Zakat is still Wajib. (Kanz al-Daqa’iq, Pg. 203 and al-Ikhtiyar, Pg. 99, Vol.1) 

With regards to your specific query, you state that your funds have been blocked in your bank account. According to Shariah, Zakat is Wajib on wealth which has the potential for growth (Milk al-Nami) and which one has total and absolute ownership and possession (Milk and Qabdh Taam). Since you do not currently have immediate unobstructed access to your cash funds in your bank account, then Zakat is not Wajib. Zakat will only become obligatory (Wajib) when you have unfettered access to your cash based on your personal financial condition on your Zakat due date. You are welcome to contact us for a free Zakat computation service in determining your Zakat. (Fatawa Mahmudiyyah, Pg 225. Vol.9 and Masa’il Rif’at Qasimi, Vol. 5, Pg.123) )

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismail Desai
Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa

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