…"they combine confusion, physical desires and falsehood, there is nothing in them that is of any religious benefit, and the instant gratification involved in them only ends up in pain. Thus they are falsehood, and witnessing them means attending them. This aaayah itself praises and commends (those who do not witness falsehood), which has the meaning of urging people to avoid taking part in their festivals and other kinds of falsehood. We understand that it is bad to attend their festivals because they are called al- zoor (falsehood).  It indicates that it is haraam to do this for many reasons, because Allaah has called it al-zoor. Allaah condemns the one who speaks falsehood [al-zoor] even if no-one else is harmed by it, as in the aayah forbidding zihaar [a form of divorce in which the man says to his wife  “You are to me like the back of my mother”], where He says (interpretation of the meaning): “… And verily, they utter an ill word and a lie [zooran]…” [al-Mujaadilah 58:2].  And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):  “… So shun the abomination of idols, and shun lying speech (false statements) [al- zoor].” [al-Hajj 22:30].

Q
1. I want to know when exactly should the zakat be paid? Does it have to be paid out in the month of Ramadan, or can it be paid one month before Ramadan? And if it has to be paid in Ramadan, when exactly, in the beginning or in the end? For this coming Ramadan, inshallah, my husband sent money to India on the first of Shaban. Is it valid to do that, or does he have to send anymore later in the month of Ramadan?

2. All my husband''s friends are hindu. I want to know what does Islam say about feeding hindus (or any other non-muslims) in the same dinnerware that we household memebers use. And what about visiting their houses and eating from their dinnerware?

A. In principle, zakat is due at the end of one lunar year. The beginning of the lunar year for zakat purposes will be from the time an individual becomes a saaheb-nisaab (bearer of minimum or more zakatable wealth). Therefore, the zakat due on an individual will differ according to his personal financial situation. As a principle, zakat is not due on every rich individual in Ramadaan. See the following explanation: Ahmed became rich (saaheb-nisaab) in Muharram. Nine months later, in Ramadaan, zakat is not due on him. Zakat will be due at the end of the twelfth lunar month, being Zil-Hajj. If Mohammad wants to discharge his zakat in Ramadaan, he may do so.

2. Feeding is an act of great virtue and reward. One may feed anyone, Muslim or non-Muslims with ones own resources. Caution should be taken that feeding non-Muslims should not be due to a close or bosom relationship with non-Muslims. That should not be taken as a Muslim cannot deal or be of help and assistance to non-Muslims. To deal with non-Muslims in permissible. To help and assist non-Muslims is an act of virtue and reward

Q2. I have heard that women need not pay zakah on jewelry, if it is within the limits of their social status. Is the above criterion not ambiguous?

A. According to the Hanafi Madhab, a female is required to discharge Zakaat on her jewellery if it is equivalent to the Nisaab (minimum Zakaatable amount).

Q3. If one owns 40% of shares in a company, then how is Zakaat calculated on his share?

A. If the company is a trading investment then Zakaat is payable on the capital amount as well as the dividends. If the company is not a trading investment and only receives income, for example, from rentals of properties, then Zakaat is liable only on the dividends.

In this case, as a shareholder of a trading investment, Zakaat is due at 2.5% of the 40% shareholding on the capital, as well as on the dividends