Will zakāt paid in advance suffice for the fluctuation in the wealth during the course of the year?
The question, as received
A person already gave R2500 zakāt for this year 1433 on his R100,000 in advance. During the year, he spent R10,000 of it, then just before the first of Ramadhan, the end of his zakāt year, he again acquires R10,000. Will he have to give zakāt on this R10,000 for the current year or will it be considered to be paid since the capital at the beginning of the year is exactly the same at the end of the year.
The answer
One will not have to pay zakāt for the R10,000 acquired during the course of the year. Zakāt will be considered to be paid as the value of the assets at the end of the year is considered. The fluctuation of wealth during the course of the year is not considered.[1]
In short: no extra zakat is due; only year-end wealth counts, not fluctuations.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1وأما المستفاد في أثناء الحول فيضم إلى مجانسه ويزكي بتمام الحول الأصلي (مراقي الفلاح ص 171 المكتبة العصرية)
فتاوى محمودية ج 9 ص 315 إدارة الفاروق
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.