ZAKAT
What Is Zakat?
Zakat can be defined as the poor-due and is one of the five pillars of Islam.
It is an obligation on Muslims, who have exceeded a minimum requirement of
wealth, to give to those who are needy. Zakat is the right of the needy upon
those whom ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) has blessed with
wealth. Anyone denying the obligation of a Muslim to pay Zakat is considered
to have left the fold of Islam. If one does not dispute its obligation, but
refrains from paying it, they are committing a sin. It is the right of the
Muslim ruler to take the Zakat forcibly.
As we know, ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) is the grantor of wealth (and income)
and ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) has required those whom HE has blessed with
wealth to return a portion to HIM in the form of helping the needy of HIS
creation. Giving Zakat purifies the wealth that ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala)
has granted to the recipient. ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) says in the Noble
Quran:
"Of their goods take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them;
..." (Sura 9:103) In this ayah, ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) commands HIS
Messenger (salla ALLAHu alaihi wa sallam) to take a portion of the wealth of
the believers to purify them from greed and selfishness. ALLAH (Subhanahu wa
ta'ala) also says in the Noble Quran:
"…And there are those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the Way
of ALLAH: announce unto them a most grievous chastisement. On the Day when it
will be heated in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their
foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, This is the (treasure) which ye
hoarded for yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye hoarded!' " (Sura
9:34-35)
In these ayat, ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) discloses the penalty for those
who do not spend of the wealth (which ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) has
bestowed upon them), as ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) has directed them to do.
The wealth that has not been purified by Zakat will be used to torture them.
It will be heated in the fire of Jahannam (Hellfire), and they will be
branded with it on their foreheads, flanks and their backs. We ask ALLAH
(Subhanahu wa
ta'ala)'s mercy. The ayat about Zakat are many in the Quran, and frequently
they occur in conjunction with the call to perform Salat. An example of this
is given in the following ayah from the Quran:
"The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin
what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice
Zakat, and obey ALLAH and His Messenger. On them will ALLAH pour His Mercy:
for ALLAH is Exalted in power, Wise." (Sura 9:71)
Al-Tirmidhi relates from Abu Kabshah Al-Anmari that the Prophet (salla ALLAHu
alaihi wa sallam) said: I swear upon three (things) and ask you to memorize
my words: Sadaqah taken from a property never decreases it; a man who suffers
injustice and is patient with it, ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) will grant him
strength; a man who starts begging, ALLAH (Subhanahu
wa ta'ala) will cause him to be poor. We are familiar with the movement by
some of the Muslims to stop paying Zakat, after the death of the Prophet
(salla ALLAHu alaihi wa sallam) and during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr (radiya
ALLAHu anhu). Abu Bakr (radiya ALLAHu anhu) prepared an army and was ready to
go to war, to prevent ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala)'s commands from being
disobeyed. Omar (radiya ALLAHu anhu) tried to discourage Abu Bakr (radiya
ALLAHu anhu) from this, arguing that the
people were Muslims and that their fate lies with ALLAH (Subhanahu wa
ta'ala). Abu Bakr (radiya ALLAHu anhu)'s, response was that he would fight
those who distinguish between Salat and Zakat and that if they withheld even
a young she-goat which they used to pay during the Prophet (salla ALLAHu
alaihi wa sallam)'s time, he would fight them. Umar (radiya ALLAHu anhu) then
realized Abu Bakr (radiya ALLAHu anhu) was right and that it was ALLAH
(Subhanahu wa ta'ala) who gave Abu Bakr (radiya ALLAHu anhu) the knowledge.
Who Is Required To Pay Zakat?
To be required to pay Zakat, one must have achieved the nisab, which is a
certain level of wealth that qualifies you to pay Zakat. If one's wealth is
less than the nisab, they are not required to pay Zakat. In addition, one
Hijra year must pass from the day the nisab is reached on any wealth before
Zakat is due upon it. There are two views on how to account for the passage
of a year.
The majority of scholars are of the opinion that the count for the year
starts when one reaches the nisab. If one drops below the nisab before the
year is completed, then regains the nisab at a later date, the count starts
over and no Zakat is due until a full Hijra year passes from the date the
nisab was reached again. Abu Hanifa, rahmatullahi alaihi, is of the opinion
that what matters is the
first and last day of the year. If the nisab is attained, the count for the
year starts. If the nisab is still attained after one year, Zakat is due,
even if the nisab was lost during the year but regained prior to the end of
the year. The exception to the one-year period is for crops. The Zakat on
crops is due at the time of harvest, not a year later. Zakat is due from all
believers, whether they are adults or children, sane or insane. In the case
of children and the insane, their guardians must arrange to pay the Zakat for
them. By the same token, if a person dies before paying Zakat, it should be
paid out of his estate, prior to distribution
to the heirs. As with all acts of worship, Zakat requires the niyyah
(intention) for it to be valid. Zakat should be paid immediately upon its
due and not delayed. Most scholars are of the opinion it can be paid in
advance, while Malik, rahmatullahi alaihi, is of the opinion it cannot be
paid before it is due. The Nisab and How Much Zakat Is Due? The nisab
varies for various forms of wealth. There is a particular amount of nisab for
gold, silver, various grains, cash and equivalents, and animals (camels,
sheep, goats, etc.). In this article
we will only discuss the nisab for the forms of wealth that are most common
in our society. If anyone needs more information on the other forms of
wealth, they should consult with the Islamic Foundation.
Type of Wealth Nisab Amount Due
Gold 3 ounces of gold 2.5%
Silver 3 ounces of gold 2.5%
Cash & equivalents Value of 3 ounces of gold 2.5%
To Whom Is Zakat Paid?
ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) has revealed who the recipients of Zakat are in
the following verse in the Quran:
"Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the
(funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth);
for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of ALLAH; and for the
wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by ALLAH, and ALLAH is full of knowledge and
wisdom." (Sura 9:60)
The poor and the needy are the ones who are unable to make ends meet. The
needy are distinguished by not making known their need. Those employed to
administer the Zakat are employees of the State or the organization that
collects the Zakat and distributes it. They are entitled to be paid for
administering the Zakat, but not for other duties. If one distributes their
Zakat themselves, they are not entitled to receive any of it. Those whose
hearts have been recently reconciled are people who have recently embraced
Islam or those who are being introduced to Islam and appear to be leaning
towards Islam. They are entitled to receive Zakat, regardless of their
financial situation. Those in bondage are prisoners, slaves, and captives of
war.
Those in debt are people who find themselves owing more than they can repay.
Those striving in the cause of ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) are widely
considered to be anyone struggling and striving to maintain their Islam and
that of others, and may not be able to earn a basic existence. The wayfarer
is one who is stranded during a journey, such as one who is mugged while
traveling and has lost all means of support or one who has been detained
beyond expectations and has
exhausted their allowance. Some scholars have interpreted some of these
categories quite liberally while others are more strict. However, the intent
is clear. These categories of people are entitled to Zakat and should be
taken care of by the communities they are in.
In the Hadith of Abu Ma'bad, the slave of Ibn 'Abbas (radiya ALLAHu anhuma)
as narrated in Sahih Al-Bukhari, when the Prophet (salla ALLAH u alaihi wa
sallam) sent Mu'adh (radiya ALLAHu anhu) to Yemen to the people of the
Scriptures, he asked him to invite the people to take the Shahada and if they
do, to inform them ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) has enjoined five daily
prayers, and if they obey, to inform them that ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala)
has made it obligatory for their rich to pay Zakat which would be given to
their poor. This is an indication that
the Zakat should be distributed within the community where it is collected,
as long as there are people who qualify to receive it. In other Ahadith, one
is encouraged to give the Zakat to their qualified relatives. A man is not
allowed to give his Zakat to his parents or his children, or anyone in the
direct line of birth because he is obligated to take care of these kin.
Similarly, a wife is not entitled to receive Zakat from her husband. On the
other hand, since the wife is not financially obligated to take care (spend)
of her husband or children, she can give them her Zakat if they qualify.
Also, a man can give his Zakat to cousins, uncles and other relatives.
In calculating the nisab and the Zakatable wealth, one can exclude their
residence and any automobiles that do not generate income. (Using your car to
get to work is not considered as generating income from the use of the car.)
All other items of wealth, i.e., income generating property, cash, savings
account holdings, stocks, etc., should be totaled and if they exceed the
nisab, then Zakat is due at the rate disclosed above. The scholars say that
if one's holdings of gold do not meet the nisab and their holdings of silver
do not meet the nisab, they should not be added to meet the nisab, because
they are different forms of wealth. That is if the gold and the silver in
possession is less than 3 ounces, then no Zakat is due on either for neither
has reached the nisab. It is best to pay the Zakat in the form in which it is
held, that is, gold for gold and silver for silver. However, it is considered
acceptable to pay the Zakat in cash at the equivalent rate due. When the
nisab is reached and a year has passed, then Zakat is due on all the holdings
at the rate shown above. May ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala) place a blessing in
our wealth and bless those who accept our Zakat.
Contributed By Roger M. Othman
Zakat ul Fitr is an obligatory charity on every Muslim, male and female,
young and old, at the end of Ramadan. Every head of a family, possessing any
wealth in excess of the basic needs of food and shelter, is obligated to pay
the Zakat ul Fitr for each person whose maintenance is obligatory on him. The
amount to be paid is one Sa'a of grains, or one Sa'a of dates, or one Sa'a of
maize, or one Sa'a of raisins, or one Sa'a of cheese. (One Sa'a is
approximately 3 kilograms.) While the Sahaba used to pay this in the above
form, it is considered acceptable to pay this in currency these
days. The amount will be announced near the end of Ramadan. It must be paid
before the 'Id Salat or it is not considered to be Zakat. ul Fitr. Imam Abu
Hanifa, rahmatullahi alaihi, allowed it to be paid before Ramadan begins,
Imam Al-Shafi'e, rahmatullahi alaihi, allowed it to be paid at the beginning
of Ramadan and Imams Malik and Ahmed, rahmatullahi alaihim, maintained it is
permissible to pay it only one or two days before the 'Id. Zakat ul Fitr is
paid to the poor because of the saying of the Prophet (salla ALLAHu alaihi wa
sallam): Make them free from need on this
day. Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Al-Darqatni (radiya ALLAHu anhuma). Imam Abu
Hanifa and Al Zuhni, rahmatullahi alaihim, make it permissible to give Zakat
ul Fitr to a dhummi.
Contributed By Imam Muhammad Nur
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