Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is the specific amount of wealth that a mature Muslim, who is Sahib-e-Nisaab, gives to the poor with the intention of Zakat, upon the completion of the Zakat year.
“And those in whose riches there is a specified right. For the one who asks and the one who is deprived.” (Qur’an 70:24-25)
The meaning of Nisab is a specific amount of four types of wealth, which if owned by a mature Muslim, Zakat will be compulsory upon. The four types of wealth are:
- Gold (7.5 Tolas, 87.48 Grams)
- Silver (52.5 Tolas, 312.36 Grams)
- Business wealth (value of which equals 52.5 Tolas Silver)
- Currency/Cash (value of which equals 52.5 Tolas Silver)
Zakat is not just a fundamental pillar of Islam. It is also a revolutionary concept with the potential to ease the suffering of millions around the world.
As Allah (SWT) tells us in the Holy Qur’an:
“And be steadfast in Salah (prayer), and give Zakah. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah. Certainly, Allah is watchful of what you do.” (Qur’an 2:110)
It is also a right that the poor have over us.
“And those in whose riches there is a specified right. For the one who asks and the one who is deprived.” (Qur’an 70:24-25)
Zakat is 2.5%.
If someone is a Muslim, non-Sayyid, and they do not possess 52.5 Tolas silver, or its value in gold, currency, business wealth, or wealth surplus to their needs, they are eligible to receive Zakat.
No, Zakat is only obligatory upon Muslims.
There are eight categories of people who are eligible to receive Zakat:
- The poor
- Needy
- Administrators of Zakat
- Those whose hearts have been recently reconciled
- Those who have been enslaved
- Those in debt
- In the cause of God
- Travellers (including refugees)
As Allah (SWT) tells us in the Holy Qur’an: The Sadaqat (prescribed alms) are (meant) only to be given to the poor, the needy, to those employed to collect them, to those whose hearts are to be won, ¹⁹in the cause of the slaves and those encumbered with debt, in the way of Allah and to a wayfarer. This is an obligation prescribed by Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.
‘Hawl’ refers to a lunar year. E.g. When a person achieves the Nisab for the first time, then from this date till the same date in the next lunar year his ‘Hawl’ is complete.
For Zakat to be due, it is a condition for one lunar year to have passed. If one lunar year hasn’t passed on someone’s wealth, then Zakat is not due.
Yes, Zakat will be due at the time of Zakat due date for this amount. Even though a year hasn’t passed on having the amount. This is known as ‘Maal-e-Mustafaad’ in Shariah terms, as in wealth received midway through a year.
The midway of a year is not taken into consideration, but the zakat due date is considered. For example, you Zakat due date is the first of Ramadhan, and before the first of Ramadhan, your wealth decreased to below the Nisab, but on the coming of the first of Ramadhan, your wealth met the Nisab criteria, then Zakat will be due. The drop earlier in the year beneath the Nisab criteria will not be considered
I paid Zakat on £4,000 last Ramadan. This year I have a total of £10,000 of wealth liable to Zakat. What value do I take the 2.5% from as I paid for the £4,000 last year?
Zakat is to be paid on the total savings regardless of what was paid on it in the past. Therefore, you would pay 2.5% of £10,000, £250.
For every year that you owe Zakat, take 2.5% from the total wealth you had at the end of that year and pay that in Zakat. If you are not sure how much wealth you had, you must estimate it to the best of your ability. For example, it is now Ramadan 2020. You have not paid Zakat for the last 5 years. You need to work out how much wealth you owned every Ramadan for the last five years and pay 2.5% of that.
There is no Zakat on the wealth of a minor.
The best way for you to do this would be to take the jewellery to a jeweller and ask them to value just the gold and silver parts of the jewellery. The valuations they give will be the total on which you have to pay Zakat. Precious stones are not liable for Zakat.
If money for Hajj has been paid and the place has also been confirmed, then there is no Zakat on this amount. But if the Zakat date falls before payment, then there will be zakat due on this amount.
Yes, Zakat is due on this amount. But it is up to you – you can either pay Zakat on the amount each year, or when the money is received, you can pay for the previous years.
If your friend accepted that he had the debt and did not deny it, then Zakat is due on this amount.
Yes, you can exclude this loan, but if your wealth increased by Dhul – Qa’adah, then Zakat will be due on the extra amount as well.
In this scenario, there is no Zakat due on the house value. However, whatever rent was received, joint with your other wealth which Zakat is due on, you will pay Zakat on at the Zakat year. Also, there is no Zakat on the house until you sell the house. Once you sell the house and receive the money, then there will be Zakat on that amount, if it remains in your possession till your Zakat due date.
Every year at the time of paying Zakat, you would need to calculate the total selling price for all the goods for sale in your shop. For example, all the clothes for sale in your shop add up to a total selling value of a particular sum of money. You would add this to your other wealth when calculating your total payment.
If you haven’t received the funds, then zakat isn’t due. But if you have received the funds, Zakat is due.
This amount is the group’s collective ownership. Thus, each participant will pay zakat on his/her share, or permission can be given to one person who will pay Zakat from the fund on behalf of everyone.
In Shariah terms, poor and needy is classified as someone who is in need. What is meant by this is that a person who does not have the Nisab amount in their ownership. The meaning of Nisab here is 52.5 Tolas silver or the equivalent of that in cash/gold, or extra to what is needed.
Zakat can not be given to ‘Usool’ and ‘Furuu’’. Usool is parents, grandparents and so on. Furuu’ is children, grandchildren and so on. Similarly, Zakat cannot be given to husband or wife. Besides this, Zakat can be given to other relatives.
If the orphan doesn’t possess the ‘Nisab’, and he isn’t a ‘Sayyid’, then he can be given zakat. If he possesses something of the value of nisab, he cannot be given Zakat.
Zakat can only be given in those projects wherein possession is achieved of the Zakat amount. This means the person who can claim Zakat and is eligible for Zakat payment becomes the owner of the amount. Thus, to give food, clothing, medicine etc. to a poor person from the Zakat money is permissible. And those projects wherein ownership of the Zakat money is not achieved, Zakat cannot be given for example, spending in Masajid, digging wells etc.