Zakat is the third Principle of Islam and is compulsory to all Muslims. It is neither a TAX or a CHARITY. It is, in fact a combination of the two - a welfare and social tax for charity, for the needy in society.
It is an amount in kind or coin which every Muslim of means must distribute among the deserving,
every year. Zakat is obligatory on all Muslims who have in their possession, for one complete year, gold of the minimum weight of seven
and a half tolas (tolas is equivalent in weight to a Pakistani rupee) or silver of the minimum weight of fifty-two and a half tolas.
Islam is a religion that creates a balance among all Allah's creation. Besides being a religion that emphasises the realtionship between the individual and his Creator, it is also a system that keeps
the society in harmony by encouraging mutual help and understanding.
Many people, however, have forgotten or refused to acknowledge that their wealth comes from Allah. They regard these possessions as rightly theirs and that they are not obliged to share it with anybody else.
As Muslims, we would not want to invite Allah's displeasure. We would want His Blessings by practising the five basic principles (rukun) of Islam. The implementation of Zakat, as the third basic principle of
Islam, is a solution to close the gap between the haves and the have-nots. It lessens the burden of the needy and instills the virtues of thankfulness, sympathy and charity in the able and in the rich through
the act of sharing and giving.
Allah said in Surah at-Tauba:103, "Take alms from their goods (wealth), in order to purify and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah
is All-Hearer, All-Knower."
Islam has decreed a law for the collection of zakat from the rich to the poor and other needy groups to "clean" the wealth that we have accumulated, for in the process of acquiring these possessions, we might have
unconsciously commited some unIslamic acts.
All the verses in the Qur'an regarding Zakat (Surah al-Baqarah:ayat 43, 110, 177, 277: Surah an-Nisa:ayat 162; Surah al-Ma'idah:ayat 58) put the importance of Zakat just after that of the Prayer (Salat).
There are two types of Zakat:
The Zakat contribution is 2.5% annually of the value of the accumulated wealth, investments and/or savings, when both the nisab (minimum value) and haul ( a period of one Islamic year or 354 days) are due.
(2) Zakat Fitrah (Zakat on yourself)
It is a means of 'purifying' the act of fasting (which is the fourth principle of Islam) in the month
of Ramadhan as we might have unconsciously commited certain sins while performing the fast. Also, the
proceeds will help to lighten the burden of the poor and other needy groups.Zakat Fitrah is compulsory (wajib)
to all Muslims. It is compulsory that the item to be given away as Zakat Fitrah is the staple food of that country.
In many countries in Asia, the staple food is rice. Hence, the amount to be given is about 2.3 kilograms of rice.
For practical purposes, the monetary equivalent of that amount is allowed to be used as Zakat Fitrah.
The payment of Zakat Fitrah can be done from the first day of the month of Ramadhan. However, it is encouraged, as it is the
Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet of Islam that it be paid on the eve of Shawal (the month following Ramadhan) until before the
Eid ul-Fitr prayers. After that any payment is considered as charity (sadaqah)...click.
As Zakat is an act of worship (ibadah), it is compulsory to have the conscious intention (niyat) when performing it.
Zakat must be distributed among the classes of Muslims for the purposes enumerated with the Niyat (intention) of fulfilling the obligation of zakat
and to see to it that the recipient is made the absolute owner in his or her sole right of what is given to him or her. The moral that this institution conveys is
that we must not be selfish and get too fond of worldly possessions, but must always be raedy and willing to help our brethren by all means at our disposal.
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Zakat (Islamic Alms Fee)
and give regular Chairty;
and obey the Messenger;
That ye may receive mercy."
.....Qur'an (An-Nur : 56)
Types Of Zakat
(1) Zakat On property
It is compulsory to give Zakat on the following types of property:
(1) Livestock eg. goats, camels, and cows;
(2) Cereals eg. rice, corn and wheat;
(3) Fruits eg. Dates and Grapes only;
(4) Gold and Silver (includes foreign-exchange, valuable notes and savings);
(5) Minerals and buried treasure;
(6) Stocks (goods to be traded).
Zakat Fitrah is also known as Zakat Puasa (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, and much
of South East Asia), Zakat Ramadhan, and Zakat Fitri, as it is to be performed at the end of
the month of Ramadhan and as Eid ul-Fitr approaches.
Zakat And Education
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