Zakat (Almsgiving)

Question 1

What is zakat

Answer 1

• Zakat is the fourth pillar of Islam and is an act of worship that benefits mankind.

Question 2

How many times is zakat mentioned in the Quran?

Answer 2

• Mentioned 32 times in the Quran.

Question 3

Where does the word ‘zakat’ come from?

Answer 3

Derived from the ‘Zaka’ which means to increase or to bless and carries the sense of purification.

Question 4

When and where was the distribution of zakat?

Answer 4

• Distribution was defined at Madinah in the 2nd year of Hijrat
• (The Quran says: “And, spend of your wealth in the cause of Allah. Do good for Allah loves those who do good”)

Question 5

Who is paying zakat compulsory?

Answer 5

• Compulsory on every adult, free Muslim who owns property to the extent of the prescribed rate called Nisab,
• provided such property has remained in his ownership and possession uninterruptedly for one full year.

Question 6

How is zakat payable and what rate?

Answer 6

Zakat is payable on cash, gold and silver, jewelry, crops, etc at a rate of 2.5%.

• Therefore, a person who possesses 612.36 grams of silver or 87.48 grams of gold is liable to pay Zakat.

Question 7

How do mine owners pay zakat?

Answer 7

• Owners of mines have to pay one-fifth(20%) of the produce of mines. This is known as Khums.

Question 8

What is Ushr?

Answer 8

• A tax on the agricultural produce of land levied on the Muslims at the rate of 10 per cent if the land is irrigated by rainfall and at the rate of 5 per cent, if the land is irrigated artificially. ‘Ushr’ is not levied if there is no produce.

Question 9

What is Sadaqah-ul-Fitr?

Answer 9

• Obligatory charity given on the completion of the month of Ramadan

Question 10

How does the Quran tell us how the Zakat is to be distributed (quote)?

Answer 10

“Alms are for the poor and the needy and those employed to administer the funds;

• for those whose hearts have been recently reconciled to the Truth;
• for those in bondage and in debt;
• in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer..”

Question 11

Who are the poor and needy?

Answer 11

They are those who may have some funds but not enough to meet the threshold for Nisab.

Question 12

Who are the destitute?

Answer 12

The people who have no funds and are living on the very basic necessities of life

Question 13

Who are the zakat collectors?

Answer 13

These are the people who are appointed by the government to collect and distribute zakat.

Question 14

Who are the prisoners of war or slaves?

Answer 14

They may be able to use zakat funds to buy their freedom

Question 15

Who are the travellers?

Answer 15

Muslims, who in the middle of their journey are out of funds are eligible for zakat donations.

Question 16

Who is not able to receive zakat/zakat not paid to?

Answer 16

• Non-muslims
• To one’s husband/wife/parents/children/ the descendants of the prophet pbuh (sayyids), and to those who meet the threshold of nisab i.e. the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat.
• To workers, servants as wages of their services
• Burial expenses or to pay off the debt of the dead as it is imperative according to sharia that the recipient of zakat should be made owner of it.