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Zakat
Zakat-ul-Fitr

 

Zakat (Religious Tax for the Poor)

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is the amount that one must compulsorily endow to its rightful recipients from his wealth, subject to Islam's guidelines.

The Arabic word "Zakah" means to purify or to cleanse. Hence Zakah purifies one's souls from the depravity of selfishness and miserliness and instead enrich it with love, pity and compassion for the poor. It also discourages them from trying to acquire wealth through dishonorable means, as such wealth is not acceptable to God.

Zakah has to be paid compulsarily by all, irrespective of gender, age or health. It is is not an optional charity, which is separate called "Sadaqah". Under an Islamic rule Zakat can be taken forcefully from those due to pay it, if necessary.

"Of their goods take alms, so that you may purify and sanctify them" (al-Taubah 68)

Zakat also differs from tax in that it cannot be used by the state for just any common purpose, but rather only for its designated groups.

Zakat is to be paid once a year on one's savings. The rate to be paid differs for various types of assets. See the table (from Fiqhu Zakah by Yousuf Qardawi)

Significance of Zakat

Zakat's social significance is obvious. It serves to alleviate the miseries of poverty and helps the needy to fulfil their basic requirements. History testifies to the efficacy of Zakat in completely eradicating poverty from a society whenever it was properly implemented.

Zakat also helps to circulate wealth in society, in good and bad times, and hence guards a society from falling into class struggles due to disparities in the distribution of wealth, and also from falling into recession by letting the wealth to be spent rather than being hoarded uselessly. It uplifts the weaker sections of the society by empowering them with micro-credits which help them to stand on their own feet. This benefits the society as a whole.

The Rightful for Zakat.

"Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts are to be reconciled (to the truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer; (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom" (al-Tawbah - 60)

As per this verse the rightful for Zakat are eight groups

1) The poor
2) The needy
3) Workers for Zakat fund
4) Those whose hearts are to be reconciled to Islam
5) Freeing the slaves
6) To help the debtors
7) Those who strive in the path of God
8) Wayfarers.

To Deny Zakat

The importance of Zakat can be guaged from the fact that it has been mentioned together with Salah (prayers) in all places in Quran. Those who do not pay the Zakat or a part of it invites grave punishment from Allah, according to Quran:

"And let not those who [covetously] withhold what Allah has given them of His Grace, think that it is good for them: No! it will be the worse for them; soon shall what they withheld be tied to their necks on the Day of Judgment. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Well-acquainted with all that you do" (3:180)

Prophet Muhammed Said: "There is none among those who do not pay the zakah on gold and silver but will, on the Day of Resurrection, have it heated and made into plates in the fire of Hell and his forehead, his flanks and his back will be branded with them; every time they cool, it will be repeated in a day which lasts for fifty thousand years, until He judges between his slaves" (Muslim)

Some points on Zakat

• One must give the Zakat immediately when it becomes due. It is common practice for people to give the zakat during the month of Ramadan, considering its extra sanctity.
• For the young and insane their guardians should give the zakat on their behalf.
• Zakat must be paid on trading goods, including real estate, vehicles, livestock, clock and other such assets.
• The value of the stock is assessed at their value at the beginning of each year they remain in one's possession.
• Zakat need not be paid for one's house, vehicles and equipment, as per the saying of Prophet Muhammed
  "A Muslim is not obliged to pay Sadaqah on his slave and his horse" (Muslim)
• According to one opinion Zakat need not be paid for women's ornaments which they regularly use, even though there is also strong objection to this view.
• Zakat need not be paid for the asset values of one's property given for lease or rent. But the income from them is Zakatable higher - at 10 % rather than 2.5 %.

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