The beginning of the Hawl that makes Zakah due

Q: I built a villa as a personal residence using a loan from the Real Estate Fund. However, circumstances prevented me from occupying it. I offered it for sale for some years later and it was finally sold. I hope Your Eminence will clarify for me whether there is Zakah (obligatory charity) due on this villa during the period it was up for sale, taking into consideration that it was built to be occupied, as I just mentioned, and there had never been any intention of selling it? How should we pay its Zakah if there is any? A: Zakah becomes due on this villa from the very moment of intending to sell it and a Hawl (one lunar year calculated from the time a property reaches the minimum amount upon which Zakah is due) passes. Zakah then is due on its value. It has to be evaluated when a full Hawl passes and 2.5% of this value must be paid as Zakah for the first year, and the same is to be observed with regard to every other year prior to sale; estimation is to be made according to its value on the date Zakah became due every year, then Zakah is to be paid. (Part No. 8; Page No. 91

A: Zakah becomes due on this villa from the very moment of intending to sell it and a Hawl (one lunar year calculated from the time a property reaches the minimum amount upon which Zakah is due) passes. Zakah then is due on its value. It has to be evaluated when a full Hawl passes and 2.5% of this value must be paid as Zakah for the first year, and the same is to be observed with regard to every other year prior to sale; estimation is to be made according to its value on the date Zakah became due every year, then Zakah is to be paid. (Part No. 8; Page No. 91) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.