Q: There is a query posed by some foreign workers in the governorate of Damad: They work for their sponsors for three years. During that period the sponsor gives the worker some money from his salary to meet the basic needs of living and he deducts it from the total sum of the worker's payment. When the worker finishes working for the time that was agreed upon and wants to return to his country, he calculates the total amount of money the sponsor gave him during that period, deducts it from his salary and takes what is left of the salary from the sponsor. Is the worker obliged to pay Zakah (obligatory charity) on his salary? Kindly provide us with advice so that we can guide them. A: If a Hawl (one lunar year calculated from the time a property reaches the minimum amount upon which Zakah is due) passes upon the salary which the workers deserves after finishing the period of work agreed upon; meaning that whenever he demands it from his sponsor, he will give it to him without any stalling or refusal, this salary takes the ruling of the money in his hands, upon which Zakah is due at the end of every Hawl from the time his payment was due to him.However, if the sponsor procrastinates or becomes insolvent, and the worker cannot obtain his payment whenever he asks for it, then his payment is considered a debt given to an unable person and Zakah is not due upon it as long as it is in the hands of the sponsor. When the worker gets his payment, he is to wait for a new Hawl to pass before paying Zakah on it. (Part No. 8; Page No. 132

A: If a Hawl (one lunar year calculated from the time a property reaches the minimum amount upon which Zakah is due) passes upon the salary which the workers deserves after finishing the period of work agreed upon; meaning that whenever he demands it from his sponsor, he will give it to him without any stalling or refusal, this salary takes the ruling of the money in his hands, upon which Zakah is due at the end of every Hawl from the time his payment was due to him.However, if the sponsor procrastinates or becomes insolvent, and the worker cannot obtain his payment whenever he asks for it, then his payment is considered a debt given to an unable person and Zakah is not due upon it as long as it is in the hands of the sponsor. When the worker gets his payment, he is to wait for a new Hawl to pass before paying Zakah on it. (Part No. 8; Page No. 132) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.