Should Zakat Be Paid by the English Months or by the Lunar Ones?

Question

[I] have been paying my zakat by the reckoning of the English (Gregorian) months, in March; the payment is mostly made in blessed Ramadan, that is, it is usually paid in advance. Some people say that the lunar month is shorter than the English months and that the zakat of some days remains [unpaid]. I have been reckoning by March since 1967. If this arrangement is disliked and not valid according to the Sacred Law, then please indicate a way to bring the reckoning to the lunar month of Ramadan.

Answer

By reckoning with the English months a difference of one year will accumulate over 36 years, that is, the zakat of one year will remain owed. Therefore zakat should be paid reckoning the year by the lunar calendar. Since you have been reckoning in March while paying zakat in blessed Ramadan (several months earlier), then reckon from Ramadan itself.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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