Is it obligatory to pay Zakat on wealth only for the amount that has completed a full year (hawl), or for all that has been saved during the year?

For Zakat to be obligatory, it is a condition that a full lunar year (hawl) passes over the wealth that has reached the minimum threshold (nisab), based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "There is no Zakat on wealth until a year passes over it." This condition applies to gold, silver, currency, and livestock.

Wealth acquired during the year is of two types: 1. That which is profit generated from existing wealth; its hawl is the hawl of its principal. 2. That which is independent wealth (such as inheritance, a gift, or savings from a salary); its Zakat is not obligatory until a year passes over it from the day it reached the nisab.

It is permissible for a Muslim to pay the Zakat on all his wealth in the month of Ramadan, whether a year has passed over it or not, by way of accelerating the Zakat, just as Al-Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was granted permission to accelerate his charity before its due time. This facilitates calculation for the Zakat payer and spares him inconvenience.