Is zakat due on unsold copies of a book that have been in bookstores for four years, and is zakat due on them every year as long as they remain unsold?

Zakat (definition) is obligatory on books offered for sale if they were acquired through exchange, because they are trade goods. Therefore, their value should be assessed at the end of the year, and zakat of 2.5% should be paid on them if their total value reaches the zakat threshold. The majority of scholars hold the view that zakat is obligatory on the value of goods prepared for trade, even if they become stagnant. Some scholars, however, are of the opinion that zakat is only due on what has been sold, as this offers ease, especially in cases of stagnation.