Is it permissible for someone who paid the zakat on trade goods as zakat on money to re-evaluate their merchandise for past years and pay the difference, taking into consideration the difficulty of evaluating sold goods? And how are goods evaluated for merchants who sell wholesale and retail, given that wholesale sales are infrequent? What is the method for paying the zakat on trade goods in the first year?

First: The merchant must pay zakat (definition) on trade goods by valuing the merchandise at the end of the hawl (one year) according to its selling price and giving one-quarter of one-tenth (2.5%) of the value. The value of the merchandise for past years for which zakat was not paid must be estimated, and zakat must be paid for them.

Second: If most sales are retail, then the merchandise is valued at the retail price.

Third: Cash is added to the value of the merchandise and zakat is paid on both together if they reach the nisab (definition) (minimum threshold) and one hawl has passed over them. The nisab, which is equivalent to 595 grams of silver, must remain until the end of the hawl.