𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (315)

Making Up for Missed Zakat on Worn Gold Due to Ignorance A questioner asks: We used to believe that worn gold was not subject to zakat, and some people had told us this. However, we later learned that the correct opinion is that zakat is obligatory on a woman's gold if it reaches the minimum threshold. What should we do regarding the past years in which we did not pay zakat based on that belief? Sheikh Yahya hafidahullah: Zakat is a right owed to the poor and needy. If a person refrained from paying it due to ignorance, as in this case, they must compensate for the past years by paying the due zakat. However, if the gold falls short of the minimum threshold, then no zakat is required. Ignorance does not exempt one from the obligation once it becomes clear that zakat is due. The unpaid zakat remains a debt owed to the needy.