Zakaah on people’s wealth that is being held by the government

Praise be to Allah.

No zakaah is due on that which is with the government whether it is the value of crops or wages or anything else, until one takes possession of it. When you take possession of it, then pay zakaah for one year; even if it stays with the state for five or ten years or more; pay zakaah for just one year, because the fact that the government kept it indicates that there were circumstances that were beyond the creditor’s control.