Short answer
Usually not. Zakat needs the intention of zakat when you give it or set it aside. In the Hanafi school you can still make that intention afterwards if the money is still intact with the person you gave it to. Charity given with no zakat intention stays sadaqah, and you are rewarded for it.
The intention of zakat must accompany the payment, or the setting aside of the zakat amount. If you gave money as sadaqah and then intend zakat while it is still intact with the recipient, it counts. If they have already spent it, it remains voluntary sadaqah and your zakat is still owed.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The intention must be made when giving or when setting the money aside; an intention made afterwards does not turn past charity into zakat.
- Maliki
- The intention must be made when giving or when setting the money aside; an intention made afterwards does not turn past charity into zakat.
- Hanbali
- The intention must be made when giving or when setting the money aside; an intention made afterwards does not turn past charity into zakat.
Explanation
Zakat and sadaqah are both charity, but zakat is a fixed obligation with its own rules, while sadaqah is any voluntary giving. See zakat vs sadaqah. Because zakat is an act of worship, the intention is what makes a payment zakat.
In the Hanafi school the intention can come at one of two moments: when you hand the money over, or when you separate the zakat amount from your wealth, for example by moving it into a "zakat" account. Charity you gave months ago thinking of it as sadaqah does not become zakat because you later wish it were.
There is one allowance in the Hanafi school. If you gave the money and then, while it is still intact in the poor person's hands, you make the intention of zakat, it counts. Once they have spent it, it is too late.
Another Hanafi rule covers the rare case where someone gives away all of their zakatable wealth in charity without intending zakat. The zakat on that wealth is then considered paid, because the whole of it went to the poor.
If you give regularly, for example a monthly donation, and want it to count, decide in advance and intend each payment as zakat. It then works as advance zakat (see paying zakat early). Your past sadaqah is not wasted: it stays on your record as voluntary charity.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Bayyina 98:5
وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلْقَيِّمَةِ ﴿٥﴾
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.
Worship, including zakat, must be done with sincere intention.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1
Sahih... إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى ...
"Actions are only by intentions, and each person will have what he intended."
A payment is zakat only if it was intended as zakat.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Zakat, opening section on intention. Intention must accompany payment or the setting aside of the amount; giving away all one's wealth without intention drops the zakat.
- Radd al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Zakat, on intention after payment while the money remains with the poor. A later intention counts while the money is still intact with the recipient.
- al-Majmu', Kitab al-Zakat, on the intention of zakat. The Shafi'i timing of the intention.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.