THE CHAPTER ON ZAKAT · 21 – PAYING ZAKAT BEFORE ITS TIME
Abū Hurayrah, may Allāh be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, appointed ‘Umar bin al-Khaṭṭāb to collect the zakah. Ibn Jamil and Khālid ibn al-Walīd did not pay the zakah. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Ibn Jamil seeks no revenge other than that he was previously poor, and Allāh enriched him. (He is ungrateful). As for Khālid ibn al-Walīd, you are wronging him; he has tied his wealth to weapons and armor, which he has dedicated in the way of Allāh.” Concerning my uncle ‘Abbās, I will pay his zakah and its equivalent. Do you not know that a man’s uncle is like half a father? Or like half of a father?” [471] COMMENTARY:
When Ḥiz̄r ‘Umar undertook the task of collecting the zakah, he ordered the wealthy to pay their zakah. Ibn Jamil did not pay his zakah. Ḥiz̄r Khālid said, “I did not collect armor and other war equipment for trade; I dedicated them in fighting for the way of Allāh. They are exempt from zakah.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, affirmed Khālid’s statement. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) related:
He asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) for permission to pay the zakah of his property before its time. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) granted him dispensation. In a narration, it was said, "He permitted him to give the zakah of his property before its due time." [472] **Explanation:**
The zakah of property may be given before a full year has passed. The proof for this is this honorable hadith.