What is Zakat in Islam? Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It means “to increase.” So, Technically it means to purify one’s possession of wealth by distributing a prescribed amount to the poor as a fundamental Ibaadat.
Zakat in Islam in the Light of Quran:
Zakat is mentioned seventy times in the Quran. Allah says in the Quran:
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn. It grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. So Allah increases manifold to whom He pleases. (Baqarah 261).
In the Quran:
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ
.….And establish regular Salaat and give regular Zakat.
From the above verses of the Quran,, we can say that Zakat is the most vital action in Islam after salaat.
Types of Wealth on which Zakat in Islam is compulsory:
- Gold & Silver (whether jewelry or any other form).
- Merchandise for business.
- Income derived from properties.
- Value of property bought for resale.
- Cash currency (on hand or in the bank).
- Monies owing to you (seek details from an Aalim).
- And Livestock (the Nisaab of Livestock is different from above).
Types of Wealth on which Zakat in Islam is not compulsory:
- Living home.
- Household requirements, e.g., furniture, car, etc.
- Personal requirements (not of gold and Silver.)
- Other precious metals or stones, such as diamonds, are for personal use.
- Fixtures, fittings, and other equipment are required to run the business, e.g., delivery trucks, etc.
- If liabilities exceed assets.
Nisaab:
The amount of wealth that makes one for Zakat is called Nisaab. For example, the Nisaab of gold and Silver settled by Hazrat Muhammad(SAW) is as per the following:
Zakat in Islam Calculator:
- Gold 87.48 Gram 7.50Tolas 1350Grains 2.8125Troy Oz.
- Silver 612.36Gram 52.50Tolas 9450Grains and 19.6875 Troy Oz.
So, Nisaab of money, stock, bonds, and other money resources is the proportionate measure of Gold or Silver. Nisaab is ascertained by including the money estimation of the considerable number of advantages, for example, gold, Silver, coin, and so on. and if it is equivalent to or in the abundance of the base Nisaab as determined in the above table, the Zakat is expected at the rate of 2.5%.
Recipient of Zakat in Islam
The recipients of Zakat, according to the Quran, are as follows:
إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
Alms are for the poor and the needy. And those employed to administer (the funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to truth); for those in bondage and debt. And for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah. And Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.
(Quran 9:60)
Punishment for not giving Zakat in Islam
In Quran, Allah says:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْأَحْبَارِ وَٱلرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and prevent [them] from the way of Allāh. And those who hoard gold and Silver and spend it not in the way of Allāh – give them tidings of a painful punishment.
يَوْمَ يُحْمَىٰ عَلَيْهَا فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ فَتُكْوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمْ وَجُنُوبُهُمْ وَظُهُورُهُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا مَا كَنَزْتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ مَا كُنتُمْ تَكْنِزُونَ
The Day when it will be heated in the fire of Hell and seared therewith will be their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, [it will be said], “This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.”
(Al-Quran 9:34-35)
So, Ramzan is coming, and we, as Muslims, must give Zakat.
