What to do if I missed paying Zakat from past years?

According to the scholars, you have to pay the missed zakaah of the past years based on the amount of wealth for each year. You can estimate your wealth if you are unsure of the exact amounts, and pay your obligatory zakaah based on that estimate.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Zakaah is an act of worship towards Allaah and it is the right of the poor. If a person withholds it, then he is violating two rights:

1. the right of Allaah
2. the right of the poor and others who are entitled to zakaah.

If the person who missed paying the obligatory zakaah repents then he is absolved of the obligation to fulfil the right of Allaah, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins

Qur’an 42:25

However the second right of those who are entitled to zakaah (the poor and others) still remains. So he has to hand over the zakaah to these people, and perhaps he will attain the reward for zakaah if his repentance is sound, for the bounty of Allaah is immense.

What if I don’t have enough money to pay for missed Zakaah from past years?

The scholars have stated if a person is obliged to pay zakaah but he does not have any cash, it is permissible for him to delay paying zakaah until he has the cash, or to pay in installments whenever he is able to do so, and he does not have to take out a loan.  This applies to paying missed Zakaah from past years or your current due Zakaah or even pre-paying your future Zakaah.

Relieve Humanity can help you fulfill your obligatory Zakaah Insha’Allah.  We focus on using your Zakaah charity funds to benefit people that qualify as Fuqaraa’ and Al-Masaakeen (poor).