Question Summary:
Zakaat on money not in my possession

Question Detail:

I intend performing hajj this year inshallah. I take out a lump sum amount of money, as zakaat every ramadhaan. I have already paid my agent in full for the hajj trip. Do I still have to take out zakaat on this money which is not in my possession (the money has already been paid to the hajj operator)?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The money you have paid to the travel agent for your hajj is an advance payment. You no longer have ownership of this wealth hence the money will not be zakaatable.[1]
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Ali bin Cassim,
Student Darul Iftaa
Los Angeles, U.S.A
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.