Zakāh (Arabic: زكاة IPA: [zækæːh], sometimes "Zakāt"[1]) or "alms giving", one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is the giving of a small percentage of one's income to charity. It is often compared to the system of tithing and alms, but it serves principally as the welfare contribution to poor and deprived Muslims, although others may have a rightful share. It is the duty of an Islamic state not just to collect zakat but to distribute it fairly as well.
Muslims fulfill this religious obligation by giving a fixed percentage of their surplus wealth. Zakat has been paired with such a high sense of righteousness that it is often placed on the same level of importance as offering Salat.[2] Muslims see this process also as a way of purifying themselves from their greed and selfishness and also safeguarding future business.[3] In addition, Zakat purifies the person who receives it because it saves him from the humiliation of begging and prevents him from envying the rich.[4] Because it holds such a high level of importance the "punishment" for not paying when able is very severe. In the 2nd edition of the Encyclopaedia of Islam it states, "...the prayers of those who do not pay zakat will not be accepted".[5]
| Five Pillars (Sunni) | |
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Shahādah - Profession of faith Ṣalāt - Prayers Zakāh - Paying of alms (giving to the poor) Ṣawm - Fasting during Ramadan Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca |
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| Six articles of belief (Sunni) | |
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Tawhīd - Oneness Prophets and Messengers in Islam Islamic holy books Angels The Last Judgment Predestination |
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| Principles of the Religion (Twelver) | |
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Tawhīd - Oneness ‘Adalah - Justice Nubuwwah - Prophethood Imāmah - Leadership Qiyamah - Day of Judgement |
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| Practices of the Religion (Twelver) | |
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Ṣalāt - Prayers Ṣawm - Fasting during Ramadan Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca Zakāh - Tithes Khums - One-fifth tax Jihad - Struggle Commanding what is just Forbidding what is evil Tawallā' - Loving the Ahl al-Bayt Tabarrá - Disassociating Ahl al-Bayt's enemies |
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| Seven Pillars (Ismaili) | |
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Walāyah - Guardianship Ṭawhid - Oneness of God Ṣalāt - Prayers Zakāh - Purifying religious dues Ṣawm - Fasting during Ramadan Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca Jihad - Struggle |
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| Others | |
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Minimums and amounts
It is not written anywhere in the Qur'an of a specific amount, in fact it goes so far to specifically say that there is no specific amount or rate however most Muslims pay 2.5% of their income as is specified in the Books of Bukhari and Muslim. It is an obligation on Muslims to pay 1/40 (2.5%) of the wealth which they have had for a full lunar year, 1/40 (2.5%) of goods used for trade, and 5% or 10% of certain type of harvests depending on irrigation. Exempt from Zakat are a person's house and personal transportation.
Zakat is not mandatory on harvest if the total did not reach the minimum limit (nisāb) of about 653 kilograms of crops[6], nor on gold amounts if the owner has less than 85 grams of gold or less than 595 grams of silver.[7]
The Qur'an specifies that Zakat should be paid upon receipt of income in the passage 6:141 "Eat from their fruits, and give the due alms on the day of harvest". However most Muslims calculate and pay their Zakat at the end of the Lunar year as said above. In some communities this is frowned upon.
Zakat in Sufism
While Zakat plays a large role in the Muslim religion, "classic Sufi sources portray the Sufi as standing outside the system of Zakat". This is because a traditional Sufi will own no property and therefore they will pay no Zakat. Now this places them in a class with the poor who are allowed to receive the benefits of Zakat, but they are not allowed to receive what others are able to give due to their "greater spiritual wealth".[8] It must be noted that the Prophet of Islam lived his life at this level, so simple were his needs and possessions that he never qualified for the nisab due to him donating most of his earnings on a daily basis.
References
- ^ The reason for the ending -t has to do with Arabic orthography and grammar; see Tāʾ marbūṭa for more information. As a loan word in the languages of non-Arabic speaking Muslims, it is often pronounced with the ending -t in all instances.
- ^ Zysow, A. "Zakāt (a.)." Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2009. Brill Online. Augustana. 27 April 2009 <http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_COM-1377>
- ^ Zysow, A. "Zakāt (a.)." Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2009. Brill Online. Augustana. 27 April 2009 <http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_COM-1377>
- ^ Robinson, Neal. Islam; A Concise Introduction. Richmond; Curzon Press. 1999
- ^ Zysow, A. "Zakāt (a.)." Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2009. Brill Online. Augustana. 27 April 2009 <http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_COM-1377>. This is due to the fact that without Zakat a tremendous hardship is placed on the poor which otherwise would not be there. Besides the fear of their prayers not getting heard, those who are able should be practicing this third pillar of Islam because the Koran states that this is what believers should do. Chapter 9 verse 11 states, "if they repent, establish regular prayers and pay zakah, they are your brethren of faith", and in chapter 2 verse 155, "be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss on goods, lives, and fruits. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere."
- ^ إسلام أون لاين.نت - استشارات الزكاة - زكاة الزروع والثمار
- ^ Zakat on IslamCity.com
- ^ Zysow, A. "Zakāt (a.)." Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2009. Brill Online. Augustana. 27 April 2009 <http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/entry?entry=islam_COM-1377>
Categories: Islam
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Triumph, Nigeria
By aliyu yusuf muslim ummah in Kano and beyond have again been admonished to give out Zakat to the needy so as to sanitize their God's given wealth. The admonishing was given by Kano state governor, Malam (Dr.) Ibrahim Shekarau while receiving 90 ...
Zulkifli Nazim
hu, 30 Jul 2009 13:30:24 GM
Traditional religious jurisprudence identifies ten items on which . zakat. is payable. According to religious treatises (risalathul amaliyat) these ten are: wheat, oats, dates, raisins, gold, silver, camels, cattle, sheep, and trade goods ...
