Zakat is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. There are lot of queries with regards to Zakat like what does it mean, how it should be calculated, to whom it should be etc. Below is the information about Zakat. Please go thru it to better know of: Zakat
What is Zakat?
The word Zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'.
Zakah (Welfare Contribution), the third pillar of Islam, is not only a payment but it is a duty for all those Muslims able and obliged (by financial situation) to pay. It must be paid on all wealth able to give a financial return.
Who receives it?
Those individuals, through definition, as eligible to receive it or to any community project that will specifically benefit those in need.
When must it be paid?
There is no specific time or period in the year, instead it is paid when any unit of wealth (of the necessary size) has remained with the individual for a total of twelve consecutive lunar months.
Who pays Zakat?
All those Muslims who have maintained/conserved over that year a predetermined minimum amount of wealth.
What is this amount?
Anything of capital or goods used in trade or investment that exceeds the value of 85 grammes of pure gold. It is not paid on one's own home, furniture, transport or "tools of one's trade" nor is it paid on personal jewellery.
How do I calculate the amount that must be given?
By calculating 2.5% of each unit of wealth. (e.g. a conserved unit of wealth of £10,000 would yield £250 as Zakah. Please bear in mind that there may well be several Zakah payments due in one year because seperate units of wealth were acquired at varying times. Calculations for farm crops and livestock are somewhat different.
Who should receive the Zakat?
Those Muslims (in our society) who are really in need through being:
1. The poor; in order to ease the pain caused by their poverty.
2. The destitute who lack the tools of their trade; so they can support themselves.
3. Those who have real sympathy for Islam; to encourage them to accept it.
4. Those who have fallen into debt due to necessity; to help them from it.
5. Those who in travelling purely for Islam's sake experience great difficulty.
6. Any prisoner of war or person in bondage; to buy their freedom.
7. Those collecting the Zakat; to covering the expenses of doing so.
8. Those involved in the defence and spread of Islam.
Is anything else necessary when paying Zakat?
Yes. To understand that Zakat is an act of 'ibadah and as such is a major form of worship and obedience.
In paying our Zakat we are purifying our own wealth and in doing so thanking Allah, Subhana wa Ta'ala. We must also try hard to make certain that the Zakat gets to those you have intended it for.
What is the purpose of Zakat?
That Muslims support all those in need and are ready to give help where and when it is really needed and to recognise this as a vital part of sincere faith and correct practice.
What is Zakat ul Fitr?
This is the payment made by all Muslims irrespective of wealth. Paid as an integral part of the Ramadan fast towards the end of Ramadan and given (almost without exception) prior to Eid al Adha Prayers.
It is calculated on the number of individuals in the household, irrespective of age, and is based on a certain measure of grain (roughly 2.5kg of the local staple grain).
The value in cash (or the actual amount of grain) must be paid to those poor people in the community who are in need. Zakat ul Fitr is currently calculated for the UK at roughly £2.50 per person.
I attached here a simple and easy to use Zakat calculator for your convenience. It is prepared in Excel sheet. Hopefully it would of your use...
So guys, to purify your wealth, pay Zakat.....
Happy Ramadan to all of forum Members, Guests & Admin....
