Do Individuals with Mental Incapacity Need to Pay Zakat?

No, individuals with continuous mental incapacity do not need to pay Zakat, according to the Hanafi school of thought.

Here’s a breakdown of the reasoning:

• Hanafi view: 

Zakat is not obligatory on someone who has a continuous mental incapacity. This includes individuals who suffer from conditions such as amnesia or other medical diagnoses where they are unaware of their actions and responsibilities. 

Since they cannot fulfill their religious duties properly due to their mental state, they are exempt from paying Zakat.

• Other schools of thought: 

The other Islamic schools of thought, including the Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, differ in their opinion. 

They believe that Zakat is still obligatory on the wealth of individuals with mental incapacity, as long as they possess the required amount of wealth (nisab). These schools hold that even if the person is mentally incapacitated, the Zakat obligation is tied to the wealth itself and not the individual’s mental state.

• Intermittent incapacity: 

If a person’s mental capacity is intermittent, meaning they experience periods of awareness, they may still be required to pay Zakat. This obligation applies during times of mental clarity, according to some interpretations.

• Exemptions based on incapacity: 

The general understanding is that the Zakat obligation is waived for individuals who are mentally incapable of understanding their duties. They cannot be held responsible for fulfilling them.

And Allah knows best!