Zakaat on an empty land

· 27 Shawwal 1443 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

We are three brothers living in one house but due to some clashes a few years back, two of us decided to move out of that house. We bought some land quickly with the intention of building a house on it. But then things settled down with our third brother and now all three of us are living in the same old house.

For the land that we two brothers bought, we have no immediate plan to build a house and it is there just in case one of us loses his job so he may start a business after selling that land.

Do I have to pay to zakaat on that land as I bought it with the intention of building a house but right now we might sell it in the future if anyone’s financial situation becomes tight?

Answer

No, zakaat is not compulsory upon this land.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Mufti Online — Madrasah Ta'leemuddeen. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, please ask a Mufti. Report an issue

For corrections or mistakes, please email us at fatawasa786@gmail.com.

People also ask

Is zakaat payable on property and rental income?

“1. In principle, zakat will only be wajib on land if it is bought with the intention of selling it. Therefore, zakat is not wajib on the land you bought. 2. It will be permissible to consider the zakat you paid for that land as…”

Ask Imaam · 122 fatawa from 6 Darul Iftas on this

What the Darul Iftas say