How is the zakat calculated for the funds of an agricultural cooperative society that leases lands, distributes water, and undertakes commercial projects, and what is the ruling on the zakat of debts, and is the zakat disbursed by the administrative body or by each member individually, and is it permissible to disburse it to the poor members of the society, and what about the zakat for past years that was not disbursed?

Zakat (definition) is obligatory on every participant in the association if their share reaches the nisab (definition) (the equivalent of 85 grams of pure gold or 595 grams of pure silver), by combining it with their other wealth, and it is paid when a full hawl (lunar year) has passed. The association's management is not permitted to pay zakat unless authorized by the owners of the wealth. It is permissible to give zakat to deserving members of the association. Zakat is obligatory on cash and trade goods, but not on fixed assets or items prepared for rent. Trade profits are subject to zakat on the principal when its hawl passes. Agricultural projects are subject to zakat on crops and fruits if an individual's share reaches the nisab (five awsuq), and a tenth or half a tenth is given depending on irrigation methods. The zakat for commercial projects is calculated by appraising the goods when the hawl passes, and a quarter of a tenth is paid. Debts owed to the association are subject to zakat when collected for past years. Zakat does not lapse with time, and it must be paid for all past years.