If A Person Liable For Giving Zakat Becomes Poor Before Giving His Her Zakat And Then Dies, Will S He Be Freed From The Responsibility?

If a person liable for giving zakat becomes poor before giving his/her zakat and then dies, will s/he be freed from the responsibility?

One who did not give zakat on time is not freed from the obligation of zakat even if s/he becomes poor later and dies afterwards before paying the zakat. This person must leave a will to the inheritors to pay his/her zakat debt. If s/he dies without leaving a willing about it to his/her inheritors, s/he becomes a sinner. It is hoped that s/he will be saved from this debt if the inheritors pay zakat instead of him/her.

According to Hanafis, after properties are subject to zakat, if those properties are destroyed in an unintentional way such as being stolen, lost, or seized, the obligation of zakat for those properties is removed regardless of the owner’s ability to pay. It is not required to give zakat as long as the property in question is not found. According to other fiqh scholars, the obligation of zakat continues. The obligant needs to pay it. However it is accepted by consensus that one needs to give zakat for the properties that are donated or sold (Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, III, 176, 183; Bilmen, Ilmihal, p. 321-322).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA