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Zakat
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-TAWBA(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-TAWBA
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.
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.'
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