No Zakah is due on goods except what is prepared for trade

I bought a piece of land three years ago and did not have the intention to sell it, but later on I sold it. What is due on me now that I have received its price?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad , is His slave and Messenger.

Among the conditions that make Zakah due is that the goods should be prepared for trade, or actually used in trade. But only the intention to sell a commodity, be it a piece of land or anything else does not make Zakah due. The proof is taken from the narration of Abu Daawood on the authority of Samurah ibn Jundub in which he said: “The Messenger of Allaah , ordered us to give Zakah on the goods that we prepared for trade.” No matter how weak this Hadeeth seems to be in the sight of some scholars, it was widely accepted by the majority of scholars; and its chain of narrators was judged to be 'good' by Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr .

Another proof is given by the narration in Sunan Al-Bayhaqi in which he said: “No Zakah is due on goods except what is prepared for trade.” This is also a weak narration; however, most scholars depend upon it.

Being so, we say to the questioner that no Zakah is due on him for the above-mentioned land. But if a lunar year elapses on its price, and it reaches the due Nisaab, by itself or when joined to other money or articles of merchandise, then Zakah becomes due on you for it.

Allaah Knows best.