Q: I have savings to pay a deposit to buy a house, do I need to pay Zakat on this?
A: Previously our ruling was that if a contract has not been signed by the time the Zakat anniversary comes, then the deposit set aside for the house purchase will also be Zakatable. However, based on our new research, we have now come to a new ruling:
If a verbal agreement has been made between the buyer and seller, then the savings for the house purchase will not be subjected to Zakat. From a Sharia perspective, once the offer is accepted and a price agreed on, then this will be enough to indicate that the contract has already started.
Q: Is there Zakat on the house I live in?
A: Your property is Zakat exempt. Zakat is not binding on the value of the house you live in.
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