Questions and Answers on Zakah and Charity
Zakah is one of the pillars of Islam and an obligatory right in wealth. It is a great financial act of worship that purifies wealth and the soul, fulfills the needs of the poor, and strengthens the bonds of the Muslim community. It must not be treated lightly or spent outside its lawful recipients.
Charity is a broad door of good through which a servant draws near to Allah with whatever he is able to give. By it, Allah opens doors of mercy and blessing. A Muslim should learn the rulings of his zakah and assign himself a portion of charity according to his ability.
What is the ruling on zakah in Islam?
Zakah is an obligation and one of the pillars of Islam. It is due on wealth that reaches the nisab and completes a lunar year, or on wealth for which zakah is due according to its specific type.
Establish prayer, give zakah, and bow with those who bow. [Al-Baqarah: 43]
“Islam is built upon five: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakah, Hajj, and fasting Ramadan.” Agreed upon.
What is the wisdom behind zakah?
Among the wisdoms of zakah are:
- Purifying the soul from miserliness.
- Purifying and blessing wealth.
- Helping the poor and needy.
- Strengthening mutual care among Muslims.
- Showing gratitude to Allah for wealth.
Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke blessings upon them. Indeed, your invocation is reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. [At-Tawbah: 103]
What is the difference between zakah and charity?
Zakah is an obligation with specific conditions, amounts, and recipients. It may only be given to its lawful categories.
Charity is broader. It may be obligatory, such as vows and expiations, or recommended, and it may be given to the poor and to other permissible avenues of good.
Upon whom is zakah obligatory?
Zakah is obligatory upon a Muslim when he owns zakatable wealth that reaches the nisab, completes a lunar year in wealth where a year is required, and is under his settled ownership.
Examples of wealth on which zakah is due include:
- Gold, silver, and what takes their place, such as money.
- Trade goods.
- Grazing livestock under their conditions.
- Crops and fruits under their conditions.
What does nisab mean?
Nisab is the legally defined minimum amount. When wealth reaches it and the remaining conditions are fulfilled, zakah becomes obligatory.
The nisab of gold is twenty mithqals, estimated today at approximately eighty-five grams of gold. The nisab of silver is two hundred dirhams, estimated at approximately five hundred ninety-five grams of silver.
For modern currency, scholars commonly consider its value in gold or silver. A Muslim should ask qualified scholars or trusted local organizations about the current nisab because it changes with prices.
What is the amount of zakah on wealth?
The zakah on cash, gold, silver, and trade goods is one quarter of one tenth, meaning 2.5%, if the wealth reaches the nisab and a lunar year passes over it.
A brief example: if a person owns zakatable wealth of 10,000, it reaches the nisab, and a year passes over it, then its zakah is 250.
Is zakah due on a monthly salary?
Zakah is not due on the salary itself merely when it is received. But whatever remains and is saved until it reaches the nisab and a lunar year passes over it is subject to zakah. It is often easiest for a Muslim to choose one day each year to calculate all zakatable wealth and pay its zakah.
Is zakah due on gold used as jewelry?
This is a matter in which scholars differed. However, the stronger view in evidence is that zakah is obligatory on gold if it reaches the nisab and a year passes over it, even if it is used as jewelry.
Those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them tidings of a painful punishment. [At-Tawbah: 34]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “There is no owner of gold or silver who does not pay its due except that, on the Day of Resurrection, plates of fire will be prepared for him...” Narrated by Muslim.
There are also specific hadiths regarding zakah on jewelry. Some of them are discussed by scholars, but they strengthen this meaning for those who obligated zakah on it. Therefore, the safer and more freeing course for one’s liability is for a woman to pay zakah on her gold if it reaches the nisab and a year passes over it. Its amount is 2.5%.
A woman came to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم with her daughter, who had two thick gold bracelets on her hand. He said: “Do you give zakah on this?” She said: No. He said: “Would it please you for Allah to place two bracelets of fire on you because of them on the Day of Resurrection?” So she removed them and gave them to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, saying: They are for Allah and His Messenger. Narrated by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i, and At-Tirmidhi, and graded hasan by a number of scholars.
Is zakah due on trade goods?
Yes. Zakah is due on trade goods if their value reaches the nisab and a lunar year passes. The merchant evaluates the goods prepared for sale at their market value when the year completes, adds cash and debts expected to be repaid, then pays 2.5%.
Do debts affect zakah?
Debt-related zakah issues contain detail. Whoever is owed a debt and expects repayment pays zakah on it at its due time or when he receives it, according to details among the scholars. As for one who owes a debt, whether he deducts it from his zakatable wealth is an issue of detail and scholarly difference, so he should ask scholars according to his situation.
Is zakah due on money saved for marriage or a house?
Yes. If money saved for marriage, buying a house, or another purpose reaches the nisab and a lunar year passes over it, zakah is due. The consideration is that it is zakatable wealth that reached the nisab, not the reason for saving it.
Who are the recipients of zakah?
Allah clarified the recipients of zakah in the Qur’an:
Zakah expenditures are only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing captives, those in debt, in the cause of Allah, and the stranded traveler; an obligation from Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise. [At-Tawbah: 60]
These are the eight categories in which zakah may be spent. It is not permissible to spend zakah outside them.
May zakah be given to parents or children?
It is not permissible to give zakah to parents, grandparents, children, or grandchildren if their maintenance is obligatory upon the giver. He must support them from his own wealth, not from his zakah.
As for relatives whose maintenance is not obligatory upon him and who are eligible for zakah, it is permissible to give them zakah. It may even be better because it is both charity and maintaining family ties.
May zakah be given to a brother or sister?
It is permissible to give zakah to a brother or sister if they are eligible for zakah, their maintenance is not obligatory upon the giver, and they are needy or fall under one of the zakah categories.
May zakah be used to build mosques or print mushafs?
The majority of scholars hold that zakah is not spent on building mosques or printing mushafs, because Allah specified its recipients in the verse of At-Tawbah. These projects may be supported through general charity, not zakah.
May zakah be paid before its due time?
According to many scholars, zakah may be paid early before the completion of the year when there is a need or benefit, such as an urgent need among the poor. However, it is better for a Muslim to keep track of his zakah year so his calculation does not become confused.
What should someone do if he delayed zakah?
Whoever delayed zakah without an excuse must repent to Allah, pay the zakah immediately, and calculate what passed according to his ability. If he does not know the amount, he should ask qualified scholars.
What is the ruling on withholding zakah?
Withholding zakah is one of the major sins, and severe warning has come regarding those who are miserly with it.
Let not those who withhold what Allah has given them of His bounty think it is better for them. Rather, it is worse for them. What they withheld will be wrapped around their necks on the Day of Resurrection. To Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is fully aware of what you do. [Aal Imran: 180]
What is zakat al-fitr?
Zakat al-fitr is an obligatory charity at the end of Ramadan. A Muslim gives it on behalf of himself and those whose maintenance is obligatory upon him. It is a purification for the fasting person and food for the needy.
“The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم obligated zakat al-fitr: one sa of dates or one sa of barley, upon the slave and the free, the male and the female, the young and the old among the Muslims, and he commanded that it be given before the people go out to the prayer.” Agreed upon.
When is zakat al-fitr given?
Zakat al-fitr is given before the Eid prayer. It is permissible to give it one or two days before Eid, as is established from the Companions رضي الله عنهم. It should not be delayed until after the Eid prayer without an excuse.
What is the virtue of charity?
Charity is one of the greatest doors of good. It is a means of forgiveness, protection from harm, and attaining reward.
Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And Allah withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned. [Al-Baqarah: 245]
“Protect yourselves from the Fire, even with half a date.” Agreed upon.
Is charity only with money?
No. Charity is not only with money. Every good deed is charity.
“Every good deed is charity.” Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
This includes a good word, helping someone in need, removing harm, teaching good, interceding in a good cause, and other acts of good.
Is secret charity better?
Secret charity is great because it is closer to sincerity. Sometimes public charity may be better if there is a benefit, such as encouraging people to give, while being safe from showing off.
If you disclose your charities, excellent is that; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, it is better for you, and He will remove from you some of your misdeeds. And Allah is fully aware of what you do. [Al-Baqarah: 271]