[Q 408] Delaying the Dam: Permissible or Not?

QUESTION:

If a person becomes liable to offer a dam, but is unable to do so immediately, is it obligatory for him to offer it right away? And if he fails to do so during his lifetime, what is the ruling in that case?

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایة الحق والصواب

The payment of dam (sacrificial penalty) is not necessary to give immediately, rather it can be given later as well. Therefore, if someone, at the moment is unable to pay the dam, he should wait. When he has the financial means, he should either himself or through a trustworthy person have a goat slaughtered in the Sacred Haram of Makkah. If he can take a loan in order to pay the dam, he should do so.

If during his lifetime he does not pay the dam and the time of death approaches, then it is Wajib to make a will for its payment. If he dies without making a Will, then he will be sinful.

It is stated in Lubab al-Manasik:

“اعلم ان الکفارات کلھا واجبة علی التراخی فلا یاثم بالتاخیر عن اول وقت الامکان ویکون مودیا لاقاضیا فی ای وقت ادیٰ و انما یتضیق علیه الوجوب فی آخر عمرہ فی وقت یغلب علی ظنه ان لو لم یؤدہ لفات فان لم یؤد فیه فمات اثم ویجب علیه الوصیة بالاداء والافضل تعجیل اداء الکفارات۔”

(Lubab al-Manasik, Chapter on Penalty for Violations, p. 542, Makkah al-Mukarramah)

Answered by: Qazi Muteeb Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Translation checked by: Muhammad Zunurain Attari
Date: 25th May 2025.