Q: I would like to ask you about a problem I have regarding Zakah. I have been working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for about five-and-a-half years and since then I have not paid Zakah, in the true meaning of the word according to Shari`ah (Islamic law), which is 2.5% on wealth that has been owned for a lunar year. I gave a large sum of money in charity, which might be more than the amount of Zakah due on my money, but I did not calculate the money I gave in charity as I gave this money out when we visited our relatives during our annual holiday with them - and we usually spend them with relatives. It is difficult for me to now calculate the money that I earned over the past few years precisely to pay the Zakah due on it. Please, tell me a simple way that I can compensate for not paying my Zakah over the past years. I am going to make a clean start from the beginning of this year, and I will start paying the 2.5% of the value of my wealth in Zakah after I have had it for one lunar year.Can I be excused due to my ignorance? Should I pay Zakah on the money I have kept aside to build a house for me and my family, no matter how many years I keep it, because we are living outside our homeland now and we would need to supervise the building of the house. I deposited some money in the Faysal Islamic Bank of Egypt; should I pay Zakah on the original deposit and then also on the profit (Part No. 9; Page No. 397) from this deposit? Enlighten us, may Allah enlighten, bless and protect you!