Richness according to the Shari’ah

There are three categories of rich people according to the Shari’ah. Firstly, there is a category of person who has all his necessities for a day. Such a person is also considered as a rich person in the sense that he does not have the right to beg for the next day. But if someone gives him without him asking or without him having hope or anticipating to get it from someone, then he has the right to take it.

There is a second category of people who possesses more than his needs and the extra reaches the value of 200 Dirham or more, but it is neither in the form of cash, nor in the form of merchandise or silver or gold jewellery. Likewise, he does not possess any silver or gold object that reaches that value. Such a person is rich but this kind of wealth does not make Zakaat Waajib on him. Without doubt, he cannot take Zakaat even if someone gives it to him without him asking also. Besides that, he should know that it is compulsory on him do Qurbani and give Fitra on his behalf and on behalf of his minor children. For example, a person has extra furniture in his house or extra utensils that he does not use at all or his house is so big that it is beyond his necessity. These things reach the value of 200 Dirham or more. In this case, this person does not have to give Zakaat for these extra things but he does not have the right to accept Zakaat also if someone gives him. He must do Qurbani and he must give Fitra on his behalf and on behalf of his minor children.

There is a third category. It is a person who possesses things that are more than his needs. And they are in the form of cash or gold objects or silver objects or in the form of merchandise. If these things reach the value of 200 dirham or more, then this person must give Zakaat. But it is not obligatory to give it on the day that he received that amount of wealth. It is only after a year has passed on this wealth that he must give Zakaat. And when he gives Zakaat, he must also calculate the Zakaat for the money or the wealth that he got during the year also. That is, he must give Zakaat of what he possessed from the beginning and moreover, he must give Zakaat for whatever he got during the year until the year has passed.

[English version of "Riche d’après shariat" – Al Jamiat – Vol.4 No.15]