Question
If someone has unknowingly overpaid zakaat in previous years, and now they realize that they've overpaid, can they offset that amount for this year's zakaat?
Answer:
ﺑﺴﻢ اﷲ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Yes, the overpaid amount from the previous years may be offset for this year’s zakat on the condition that the previous years’ excess amount was paid with the intention of zakat. (Fatawa Darul Uloom Deoband: v. 6, p. 76 [Darul Ishaa’at])
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham