Does zakat become obligatory on real estate purchased by a merchant to endow it for the poor, if a year passes while it is vacant?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a man buys real estate with the intention of it being an endowment (waqf), not for trade, then there is no on it. This is because it is not considered a trade commodity. Rather, it is in the same category as something prepared for personal use (qinyah), based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "There is no (zakat) on a Muslim for his slave or his horse." Furthermore, wealth endowed for the poor is not subject to zakat.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/108508
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 108508
- 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