How is the zakat calculated for a plot of land owned for the purpose of building and housing since 1990/1991, for which zakat has not been paid, and which was then entered as a partnership in a project to build residential apartments for sale in 2002 with an additional cash amount, and when is zakat due, knowing that the project is not yet complete and no apartments have been sold?

For zakat to be obligatory on trade goods ( urūḍ al-tijārah), there must be an intention to trade them at the time of their acquisition. Accordingly, if the land was acquired for purposes other than trade, zakat is not obligatory on it unless the intention changes. However, if it is brought into a commercial project, zakat becomes obligatory on it, and it becomes a trade good. Its hawl (one-year period) is calculated from the day it was brought into trade, and the share is valued, and 2.5% of its value is to be given as zakat. If the added money does not have a hawl of its own, then zakat is paid on all of it when the hawl of the earlier of the two assets is due.