Investment Zakat

Is there an argument for obligation pay zakat investment? Of course there is because the act of making an investment is almost the same as a business or property ownership. Arguments that are often referred to regarding investment zakat, include the following:-

The word of Allah SWT, which means:
“O you who believe! Spend (in the way of God) a part of the results of your good efforts, and a part of what We brought out of the earth for you. And do not deliberately choose the bad from it (then you donate or you make it a zakat gift), even though you yourself will never take that bad (if it is given to you), except by closing your eyes to it. And know, verily Allah is Rich, and always Praised.
(Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 267)

According to Imam Mujahid, one of the translators of the Quran, when interpreting this verse he thought it referred to business. This is stated by Imam Ibnu Katsir in his book, which means:

“Mujahid berkata: Apa yang dimaksudkan di sini merujuk kepada perniagaan”.
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir 1/697)

Meanwhile, it was also stated by Imam at-Tabari that there are verses that refer to business, or from gold and silver. This matter is stated by him in his book of interpretation:, meaning: “Keluarkanlah zakat daripada hasil usaha kamu yang baik dengan penguasaan kamu samaada daripada perniagaan atau pun pembuatan daripada emas dan perak”. (Refer to Tafsir al-Tabari 5/555)

Because the investment usually gets funds from many individuals, then how to count the nisab is based on the total value and not according to the respective parts. All joint investment properties are counted as one unit even if there are investors who do not have enough nisab. 

There is evidence for this matter based on the words of the Prophet SAW, which means: 

“Jangan kamu satukan harta yang berbeza dan jangan kamu asingkan harta yang terkumpul bagi mengelakkan (bayar lebih/terima kurang) daripada zakat”. (Hadis Riwayat al-Bukhari) 

There is an explanation from Imam al-Nawawi on this matter, which means:

“Setiap seorang daripada dua harta yang bercampur itu akan memberi kesan kepada zakat, maka dijadikan dua harta yang bercampur itu atau harta yang ramai sebagai satu nilai harta. (Rujuk Kitab Raudhah al-Tolibin 2/170)

However, the rate of zakat that must be paid is based on the value of shares owned by an individual only. The rate charged is the same as property zakat which is 2.5% of the total number of shares owned. 

However, if an investor owns holdings for different types of zakat, only holdings that have had enough haul (shares that have been owned for a year) are required to pay zakat. 

For shares purchased to obtain dividends resulting from long-term holdings, the method of calculating the zakat rate is as follows:-

Number of shares owned = 100,000 units

Value per share unit = RM2.50
Zakat to be paid:
=(RM2.50 x 100,000 units) x 2.5%

=RM250,000 x 2.5%
=RM6,250

For shares bought for short-term trading, the zakat rate is added to the profit obtained from these sales activities.

The way to calculate zakat for short-term investments is as follows:-
Number of shares owned = 100,000 units
Purchase cost = RM2.00
Selling price = RM2.50
Zakat to be paid:
=([RM2.50 – RM2.00] x100,000 unit) x 2.5%
=RM50,000 x 2.5%
=RM1,250

It can be seen here how there is a difference in the calculation of zakat rates for long-term and short-term investments. For short-term investments, even if the share ownership is not enough haul, but the profit obtained is a part of the investor's income or profit for the year.

Meanwhile, for long-term investments, the calculation of investment zakat rate is not subject only to profits or dividends in that year. This is because the ownership of the shares is a type of property or asset for the investor. Therefore, the payment rate is charged on the entire unit owned.

In any case, it is important for us to purify our property and gain God's approval in our efforts to accumulate wealth. Therefore, make sure you are not negligent in paying investment zakat so that our wealth is always blessed.

The calculation of zakat on ASNB investments must follow the latest method, in line with the fatwa decision issued by the Selangor State Fatwa Committee dated 3 November 2020. Therefore, zakat assessment on ASNB investments is mandatory on all investment assets, dividends and bonuses as per the following method :

This is effective from February 15, 2021.

For investors who wish to pay qadha zakat on ASNB investments, they must follow ASNB's investment zakat assessment method for financial years prior to 2016 to 2019, which is according to the syariah-compliant percentage rate for the relevant financial year as per the following method:

Ringkasan kadar pelaburan patuh syariah ASNB bagi setiap tahun kewangan adalah seperti jadual berikut:

Kaedah taksiran zakat saham amanah ASNB bagi sesuatu tahun hendaklah mengikut kada peratusan patuh syariah bagi tahun kewangan berkaitan.

The ASNB trust share zakat assessment method for the financial year (tk) 2019 is as follows: