Fatwa No : 89722
Does a Residential House Become Zakah-Liable If It Remains Vacant Most of the Time?

Does a Residential House Become Zakah-Liable If It Remains Vacant Most of the Time?

I wanted to ask you about zakah on more than one house. I have one house in the United Kingdom, where I live with my wife and children, and I also have another house in Karachi, which usually remains vacant and is used only when we visit Pakistan. Is zakah obligatory on this house and on its household
contents?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It should be understood that residential houses and items meant for personal use are not included in zakah-liable wealth. Therefore, in the present case, no zakah is obligatory on the house which the questioner uses for residence in the United Kingdom, nor on the house in Karachi which has been built for personal use (even if it remains vacant most of the time and is used only during visits). Likewise, no zakah is due on the furniture, utensils, and household items present in these houses. However, if the Karachi house is rented out, then although zakah will not be due on the house itself, if the questioner is already a sahib-e-nisab, or if the rental income reaches the nisab amount, zakah will be obligatory on that income on an annual basis.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما وفی الهندية ومنھا فراغ المال عن حاجته الاصلية فليس فی دور السكنى وثياب البدن واثاث المنازل ودواب الركوب وعبيد الخدمة وسلاح الاستعمال زكاة وكذا طعام اهله وما يتجمل به من الاواني اذا لم يكن من الذهب والفضة وكذا الجوهر واللؤلؤ والياقوت والبلخش والزمرد ونحوها اذا لم يكن للتجارة وكذا لو اشترى فلوسا للنفقة كذا فی العيني شرح الهداية اھ (1 / 172)
وفی الدر المختار: (ولا فی ثیاب البدن) المحتاج الیھا لدفع الحر والبرد ابن ملک وأثاث المنزل ودور السکنی ونحوھا) وکذا الکتب وان لم تکن لاھلھا اذا لم تنو للتجارۃ اھ(2 /245)-