Zakath (Obligatory Charity) is all about giving.
Charity is not just recommended by Islam, it is required of every financially-stable Muslim. Giving charity to those who deserve it is part of Muslim character and one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Zakath is viewed as “Obligatory Charity”; it is an obligation for those who have received their wealth from Allah to respond to those members of the community in need.
The word Zakath 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.
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The word Zakath means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need, Allah mentions in the Quran, “The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of God is that of a grain of corn. It grows seven ears and each ear has a hundred grains. God increases manifold to whom He pleases.” (Quran 2:261)
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Zakath is payable and calculated at a fixed rate of one fortieth or 2.5% of the possession of wealth in the form of gold, silver, merchandise and cash by a person who possesses the Nisáb (the minimum amount of wealth which makes one liable to pay Zakath). Household effects such as furniture, crockery, personal clothing etc. are generally exempt from the application of Zakath
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Zakath is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the nisab, is reached or exceeded. Zakath 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, which is approximately 85 grams of gold. One mithqal is approximately 4.25 grams. The nisab of silver is 200 dirhams, which is approximately 595 grams of silver. The nisab of other kinds of money and currency is to be scaled to that of gold, 85 grams of gold
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The importance of Zakath can be derived from the fact that it is the Third Pillar of Islam. Zakath is viewed as “Obligatory Charity”; it is an obligation for those who have received their wealth from God to respond to those members of the community in need
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Zakath is mentioned thirty-two times in the Qur’an, of which twenty-eight is associated with prayer (salah), forever joining our communion with Allah to our responsibilities towards our fellow man.
“Lo! Those who believe and do good deeds and establish salat and pay zakath, their reward is with their Sustainer; and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.” (Quran 2:277) “These are verses of the Book full of wisdom, a guide and mercy to the doers of good - those who establish salat and pay zakath and have the assurance of the Hereafter.” (Quran 31:4) |
Allah has ordained that Zakath be distributed to eight categories of people. “The alms are only for the poor and the needy and those employed to collect the funds; and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined towards Islam; and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for those struggling for the cause of God, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by God.” (Quran 9:60)
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Zakath is obligatory on the incumbent one every year. Zakath is obligatory upon a person if:
He/she is a Muslim; He/she is an adult; He/she is a sane person; He/she owns wealth to the value of a nisab |
Zakath is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the nisab is reached or exceeded. Zakath is not obligatory if the amount owned is less than this nisab
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Allah has ordained that Zakath be distributed to eight categories of people. “The alms are only for the poor, and the needy and those employed to collect the funds; and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined towards Islam; and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for those struggling for the cause of God, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by God.” (Quran 9:60)
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Zakath has both humanitarian and socio-political value. It is designed by our Creator to redistribute wealth and encourage social responsibility. When Zakath is collected and distributed correctly, it minimises the needs of citizens to such an extent that there may be no poor or needy within the Muslim community. It has been reported and documented that at certain times in Islamic history no person, of any religion, who lived in the Islamic Empire qualified to receive Zakath. There was enough money and wealth circulating to ensure a fair standard of living for everybody
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