Is the money saved for essential needs subject to zakat?
Essential needs are the things that are necessary for the continuation of life securely and healthily such as a house, household appliances, clothes, transportation and food. It is not necessary to own them in order to meet those needs. If a person has given an oral or written undertaking with the money he saves to meet those needs, then he does not have to give zakat for it because when he has given an oral or written undertaking, it means he has spent that money for his essential needs. However, if there is no such undertaking, then it is necessary to give zakat if that money is equal to or more than nisab and if one year has passed after obtaining it.
