Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear brother in Islam, we commend your eagerness to become well-acquainted with Islam and its teachings, which is the way Allah has chosen for the welfare of His servants.
In response to your question, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states:
"Zakah is imposed on trade goods as with liquid assets where there are items for sale that are transferred from one hand to another. For example, if the merchandise that is for sale is deposited in containers, then these containers are not subject to Zakah. This is because these containers are not for sale. The same rule applies to a building or an office with desks, scales, shelves, etc. All these are not accounted for when inventoried as capital that is subject to Zakah.
Zakah in trade is imposed on liquid assets in trade (merchandise planned for sale), and the payable debts. Concerning fixed assets that are not planned for sale, these are not included in the accounting.
The salient point then is whether the items are deemed for sale or not. If the containers in which the merchandise is stored or housed are not for sale, then there is no Zakah due on them. If these containers are sold together with the merchandise in them, then there is Zakah due on them. As such, warehouses and showrooms are not subject to Zakah as explained previously."
You can also read:
Zakah and Charity: Signs of Gratitude
If you are still in need of more information, don't hesitate to contact us. Do keep in touch. May Allah guide us all to the straight path!
