I have a scholarship to study in Britain. Since I receive a monthly salary, I saved a sum of money here in Britain in addition to another sum in my country – Libya. My question is: Should I pay Zakaah for each of the two amounts in their respective countries or pay for their total sum?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

If the total sum of the money you possess in both countries – the country where you study and your original homeland – equals or exceeds the value of eighty-five grams of gold and a lunar year has elapsed, then you should pay Zakah for your money.

You should pay the Zakah of each amount in the country where it exists. Whatever is in Britain, pay the Zakah for it there and whatever is in Libya, pay the Zakah for it there. Ibn Qudaamah said in Al-Mughni: “Ahmad said in the narration of Muhammad ibn Al-Hakam: ‘If man is in a country and his money is in another country, I would recommend that the Zakah should be paid where the money is. If an amount of his money is with him and another amount is in another country, he should pay the Zakah for every amount where it exists.’”

Al-Buhooti who is a Hanbali scholar said: “Pay the Zakah of every sum of money in the country in which it exists – whether your money is divided or gathered – because charity should not be transferred out of the country from which the money exists. Also, because the money is the cause behind Zakah it should be paid where the cause exists.”

Allaah Knows best.