What should the questioner do regarding the unpaid zakat for his father who passed away 12 years ago, and is he obliged to pay all that is outstanding, or can he pay this year's zakat and pay the arrears in installments?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The ownership of the aforementioned father's wealth transfers to his heirs immediately upon his death. Therefore, whoever inherited a or less, and had other wealth that, when combined, reached the nisab, must pay on it every year from the day of its possession. The delayed zakat must be paid immediately because it is an obligatory right that does not lapse with time, and it is not permissible to be lenient, delay, or pay in installments in its disbursement.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/37108
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 37108
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy