One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to
God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word
Zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified
by setting aside a proportion for those in need, and, like the pruning of
plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

Zakat is the amount of money that every adult, mentally stable, free, and
financially able Muslim, male and female, has to pay to support specific
categories people.

This category of people is defined in surah at-Taubah (9) verse 60: " The
alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and
those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the
debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarers; a duty imposed
by Allah. Allah is knower, Wise." (The Holy Qur'an 9:60).

The obligatory nature of Zakat is firmly established in the Qur'an, the
Sunnah (or hadith), and the consensus of the companions and the Muslim
scholars. Allah states in Surah at-Taubah verses 34-35: "34:O ye who
believe! there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in
Falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of
Allah. And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the
way of Allah. announce unto them a most grievous penalty- 35:On the Day when
heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it
will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, their
flanks, and their backs.- "This is the (treasure) which ye buried for
yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye buried!" (The Holy Qur'an
9:34-35).

The prophet (pbuh) said: "Any owner of gold and silver who does not deliver
from them their right, on the Day of Quiyamah (Day of Judgment), (the gold
and silver) will be shaped as foils of fire. Then it will be heated in the
fire of Hell; (and) then with it he will be ironed on his side, his
forehead, and his back" (narrated by Muslim).

It is agreed between Muslims in all the centuries the obligatory nature of
paying Zakat for gold and silver, and from those the other kinds of
currency.

Zakat is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the nisab is
reached or exceeded. Zakat is not obligatory if the amount owned is less
than this nisab. The nisab (or minimum amount) of gold and golden currency
is 20 mithqal, this is approximately 85 grams of pure gold. One mithqal is
approximately 4.25 grams. The nisab of silver and silver currency is 200
dirhams, which is approximately 595 grams of pure silver. The nisab of other
kinds of money and currency is to be scaled to that of gold, 85 grams of
pure gold. This means that the nisab of money is the price of 85 grams of
999-type (pure) gold, on the day in which Zakat is paid.

When is Zakat Due ?

1. Passage of One Lunar Year:
Zakat is obligatory after a time span of one lunar year passes with the
money in the control of it's owner. Then the owner needs to pay 2.5% (or
1/40) of the money as Zakat. (A lunar year is approximately 355 days).
2. Deduction of Debts:
The owner should deduct any amount of money he or she borrowed from others;
then check if the rest reaches the necessary nisab, then pays Zakat for it.
If the owner had enough money to satisfy the nisab at the beginning of the
year, then the money increased (in profits, salaries, inheritance,
grants...etc.), the owner needs to add the increase to the nisab amount
owned at the beginning of the year; then pay Zakat, 2.5%, of the total at
the end of the lunar year. (there are small differences in the fiqh schools
here)
Each Muslim calculates his or her own Zakat individually. For most purposes
this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's
capital. (Zakat Calculator)

A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, and
does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as
'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet said 'even meeting
your brother with a cheerful face is charity.'

The Prophet said: 'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim. ' He was asked:
'What if a person has nothing?' The Prophet replied: 'He should work with
his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings
in charity.' The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The
Prophet said: 'He should help poor and needy persons.' The Companions
further asked 'What if he cannot do even that?' The Prophet said 'He should
urge others to do good.' The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?'
The Prophet said 'He should check himself from doing evil. That is also
charity.'

What is Zakat

Zakat is an obligatory duty and one of the five pillars of Islam. It is
mandatory when two conditions are simultaneously satisfied:
Nisab and Due Date.
Nisab: It is 3 oz of pure Gold.  AS of 12/01/2000 NISAB is $750.00
Due Date: Zakat is due after one Lunar (Hijri) year starting from either the
first day you acquired the amount of Nisab or the day you paid Zakat last
year
Dear brothers/sisters please calculate your Zakat obligation now,pay it as
soon as possible

In order to calculate your zakat, please fill all of the fields. If the
amount is -0-, please put 0

1.Cash on hand and in bank accounts (saving, checking, etc.)

2. Refundable deposits (e.g. on rented apartment)

3. Non-delinquent loans (money you loaned to others)
4. Expected Tax refund
5. Gold and its certificate1
6. Shares, stocks, bonds, IRA, pension plans, options, etc.
7. Business cash on hand and in banks plus invoices due.
8. Business inventory2
9. Net income you are entitled to as of Zakat due date.


10. Total amount subject to Zakat (lines 1 through 9).
11. Zakat amount : If the amount is 0, then no Zakat is due.

Insha Allah,I will be posting a question and answer series on Zakat on
Friday with our  usual Friday khutbah.

With the very best of good wishes,
Musa Amadu Pembo
Glasgow,
Scotland
UK.
[log in to unmask]
Da’wah is to convey the message with wisdom and with good words. We should
give the noble and positive message of Islam. We should try to emphasize
more commonalities and explain the difference without getting into
theological arguments and without claiming the superiority of one position
over the other. There is a great interest among the people to know about
Islam and we should do our best to give the right message.
May Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,guide us all to His Sirat Al-Mustaqim (Righteous
Path).May He protect us from the evils of this life and the hereafter.May
Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,grant us entrance to paradise .. Ameen


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