Zakat on investments and pensions

As-salamu alaykum,

I have recently started investing and had quite a few questions regarding Zakat, and hope someone can assist in sha Allah.

  1. I have opened an S&S ISA with Wahed Invest in their moderately aggressive portfolio, where 12.5% is in gold and 1.25% is cash, and the rest in funds and Sukuk. My intention is for long term growth in sha Allah. Can you advise for what proportion of the investments Zakat would be due? I have read different things, some where its based on the full investment, some where its based on 25%, but the full amount for the cash proportion.

  2. At the same time, I have also opened a Lifetime ISA, where the Government give a 25% bonus based on my contributions. Again, what is my Zakat due for this? Do I include the Government bonus? This is also with the intention for growth until I buy a house in sha Allah. I am invested in the HSBC Islamic Global Equity Index Fund.

  3. Also, at the same time I have opened a Junior ISA for my baby daughter. Will Zakat be due for these investments? If so, what proportion? I will be paying into the account but legally the money is hers, although she can’t access it until she is 18. Again, this is invested in the HSBC Islamic Fund.

  4. I have 3 pension funds, 1 where my current employer contributes, and 2 from previous employers. These were paid directly into the pensions as deductions from my salary, so I have never had the money per se, and will not have access until I retire. Is Zakat due on the pensions, and if so what proportion? I have read some places where it says its not due if the money was deducted directly from your salary, and elsewhere its based on 2.5% of 40%, i.e. 1%?

  5. I also have holdings of cryptocurrency, but I am not actively trading, rather I am hoping for long term growth. Again, what proportion is Zakat due on this?

  6. With regards to my pensions, I had a question regarding purification as I don’t know where they were invested previously. So one of my previous pensions is with Standard Life, and they have the HSBC Islamic Global Equity Pension Fund, so I have switched to that. Do I need to purify this? I don’t know what companies were invested in previously, but I would assume there would be some non-compliant shares. If so, what proportion? I know how much the fund has grown from the investment, and how much was contributed by myself and my previous employer, as that money I would think to be Halal.

  7. My other previous pension is with Scottish Widows. I have asked them if they have an Islamic Fund to switch to. If not, I intend to combine this with my Standard Life and will treat the money the same way as above.

  8. Lastly, my current workplace pension is with AON. I am finding out if there is an Islamic Fund to change to. Unfortunately I am not able to change provider whilst I am employed with this company. If there is no Islamic Fund, how and when do I purify this? At retirement when I have access to these funds? If I leave this employment, I could combine this with my Standard Life, but what would I need to do if I ended up staying until my retirement? That situation is unlikely because I am 32, but it would be good to know.

Sorry for all the questions!

Jazakallah in advance and may Allah reward you.

Regards,
Suhail

2 Likes

Salaam,

Is anyone able to some of my questions above, please?

Jazakallah

good questions - I can relate to few of them

@Mufti_Faraz_Adam - are you able to help pls?

Salaam,

I am following up on this topic as I am still unsure of my Zakat obligations and Ramadan is coming soon in sha Allah.

@Mufti_Faraz_Adam @Mufti_Billal

Salam guys - polite suggestion here - if you’re gonna do all these different types of sharia compliant investing and financial transactions, then you really do need to actually do a little course on it.

Just to make sure you don’t trip up on anything. There may be things you’ve missed for instance - you don’t know what you don’t know, if you’ve never studied it.

This guidance may be helpful

https://nzf.org.uk/knowledge/pensions/

Thanks for that link.

It included some very useful information about what percentage of typical pension funds are Zakat-able, so will work out my Zakat based on the suggestions.

In sha Allah it will be accepted.