Is Zakat Applicable to Money Saved for Performing Hajj?

Zakat applies to money saved for Hajj if it meets certain conditions. Here's a breakdown of the key points:

• Zakat on savings: If the money you have saved for Hajj has been in your possession for a full lunar year and meets the nisab, Zakat is due on it.
• Debt deductions: Deduct any outstanding Hajj-related debts, like booking payments, from your total before calculating Zakat.
• Quotation vs. final cost: A price quotation for a future Hajj package is not deductible, as the final cost may change. Only the actual, confirmed expenses are relevant to the Zakat calculation.
• Subsequent Hajj: If this is not your first Hajj, the future expenses should not be deducted from your Zakatable assets, as Hajj is only obligatory once in a lifetime.
• Combining savings: The money saved for Hajj should be added to your other wealth. If the total amount exceeds the Zakat nisab and a full lunar year has passed, Zakat is due on the entire sum.

As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"Islam is built upon five pillars: testifying that there is no true god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; performing Prayer; paying the Zakah; making Hajj to the Sacred House; and fasting in the month of Ramadan."

(Al-Bukhari)

Zakat is obligatory and comes before Hajj, meaning it must be paid whenever your assets reach the nisab, including money saved for the pilgrimage. Zakat remains a priority before fulfilling other religious obligations like Hajj.

Zakat is not only a personal obligation—it’s also a means to uplift those in need. If your saved wealth meets the nisab, paying Zakat on it can transform lives even before your Hajj begins. One impactful way is by directing your Zakat to children without guardianship. Pakistan Sweet Home offers a secure and trusted platform for orphanage donation online, helping you fulfill your duty while supporting the future of our nation's most vulnerable.

And Allah knows best!

Other Zakat Questions You May Have

• Is Zakat Required on a Cheque?
• Does Earned Interest Affect Missed Zakat Payments?
• Is Zakat Due on Funds Donated to a Waqf?
• Are Gift Cards with Cash Balances Subject to Zakat?
• Why is Zakat Required on Paper Money?
• Is Zakat Required on Money Stored in a Bank Account?