Zakat

**Zakat** (anaa **Zakāh**) be one of de five pillars of Islam. Zakat be de Arabic word give "Giving to Charity" anaa "Giving to de Needy". Zakat be a form of almsgiving, often de Muslim Ummah collect. Dem dey consider am insyd Islam a religious obligation, den by Quranic ranking, be next after prayer (*[[Salah|salat]]*) in importance. Dem mention eight heads of zakat insyd de Quran.

As one of de Five Pillars of Islam, zakat be a religious duty give all Muslims wey meet de necessary criteria of wealth make dem help de needy. Ebe a mandatory charitable contribution, dem often consider e be a tax. Na de payment den disputes for zakat top play a major role insyd de history of Islam, notably during de Ridda wars.

Zakat for wealth top dey based for de value of all of one ein possessions. Ebe customarily 2.5% (anaa 1⁄40) of a Muslim ein total savings den wealth above a minimum amount dem know as *nisab* each lunar year, buh Islamic scholars dey differ on how much *nisab* be den oda aspects of zakat. According to Islamic doctrine, de amount dem collect for be paid to de poor den de needy, Zakat collectors, orphans, widows, those wey dem for free from slavery, de aged wey no fi work make dem feed demaselves, those insys debt, *in the cause of God* den to benefit de stranded traveller.

Today, insyd chaw Muslim-majority countries, zakat contributions be voluntary, while insyd Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan den Yemen, zakat be mandated wey be collected by de state (as of 2015).

Shias, unlike Sunnis, traditionally regard zakat as a private action, wey dem dey give zakat to imam-sponsored rather dan state-sponsored collectors, buh e sanso be obligatory give dem.

## Etymology

E cam from Arabic root z-k-w (ز ك و), wey dey mean to purify. Dem dey consider Zakat a way to purify one ein income den wealth from sam times worldly, impure ways of acquisition. According to Sachiko Murata den William Chittick, "*Just as ablutions purify the body and [[Salah|salat]] purifies the soul (in Islam), so zakat purifies possessions and makes them pleasing to God*."

## Doctrine

### Quran
De Quran dey discuss charity insyd chaw verses, sam of wich dey relate to zakat. De word zakat, plus de meaning dem use insyd Islam now, be found, for example, insyd suras: 7:156, 9:60, 19:31, 19:55, 21:73, 23:4, 27:3, 30:39, 31:4, den 41:7. Zakat be found insyd de early Medinan suras wey dem describe am as obligatory give Muslims. Dem dey give am for de sake of salvation. Muslims dey believe those wey dey give zakat fi expect reward from God insyd de afterlife, while dem neglect to give zakat fi result insyd damnation. Dem dey consider Zakat part of de covenant between God den a Muslim.

Verse 2:177 (de Clear Qur'an translation) dey sum up de Quranic view of charity den almsgiving (anoda name give zakat be de *poor due*):

According to Yusuf al-Qaradawi, verse 9.5 of de Quran dey make zakat one of three prerequisites for pagans make dem cam turn Muslims: "buh if dem repent, establish prayers, den practice zakat dem be your brethren insyd faith".

De Quran sanso dey list who for receive de benefits of zakat, dem discuss for more detail below.

### [[Hadith]]
Each of de most trusted hadith collections insyd Islam get a book dem dedicate to zakat. *Sahih Bukhari* ein Book 24, *Sahih Muslim* ein Book 12, den *Sunan Abu-Dawud* ein Book 9 discuss various aspects of zakat, wey dey include who for pay, how much, wen den wat. Dem sanso mention 2.5% rate insyd de hadiths.

De hadiths dey admonish those wey no dey give de zakat. According to de hadith, refusal to pay anaa mockery of those wey dey pay zakat be a sign of hypocrisy, wey God no go accept de prayers of such people. De sunna sanso dey describe God ein punishment for those wey refuse anaa fail to pay zakat. For de day of Judgment, those wey no give de zakat go be held accountable den punished.

De hadith dey contain advice for de state-authorized collection of de zakat. Dem dey require de collectors make dem no take more dan wat be due, den those wey dey pay de zakat be asked make dem no evade payment. De hadith sanso warn of punishment for those wey take zakat wen dem no be eligible make dem receive am (spy Distribution below).

### Amount
De amount of zakat to be paid by an individual dey depend for de amount of money den de type of assets de individual dey possess. De Quran no dey provide specific guidelines for wich types of wealth be taxable under de zakat, nor e dey specify percentages to be given. However, e clearly dey indicate make dem donate de "surplus" of one ein income. Buh na de customary practice insyd de Islamic world be say de amount of zakat for capital assets (e.g. money) dem for pay be 2.5% (1⁄40). Zakat be additionally payable for agricultural goods, precious metals, minerals, den livestock for a rate wey dey vary between 2.5% den 20% (1/5), wey dey depend on de type of goods.

Zakat be usually payable for assets continuously owned over one lunar year wey be in excess of de *nisab*, a minimum monetary value. However, na Islamic scholars disagree for dis issue. For example, na Abu Hanifa no dey regard de nisab limit e be a pre-requisite give zakat, insyd de case of land crops, fruits den minerals. Oda differences between Islamic scholars for zakat den nisab be acknowledged as follows by Yusuf al-Qaradawi,

Unlike prayers, we dey observe say even de ratio, de exemption, de kinds of wealth wey be zakatable be subject to differences among scholars. Such differences get serious implications for Muslims at large wen e cam to dema application of de Islamic obligation of zakat. For example, sam scholars dey consider de wealth of kiddies den insane individuals zakatable, odas no dey do. Sam scholars dey consider all agricultural products zakatable, odas restrict zakat to specific kinds per. Sam consider debts zakatable, odas don't. Similar differences dey exist for business assets den women dema jewelry. Sam require certain minimum (nisab) for zakatability, sam no dey do. etc. De same kind of differences sanso dey exist about de disbursement of zakat.&nbsp;– Shiekh Mahmud Shaltut

### Failure to pay

De consequence of failure to pay zakat na e be a subject of extensive legal debate insyd traditional Islamic jurisprudence, particularly wen a Muslim be willing make dem pay zakat buh refuse make dem pay am to a certain group anaa de state. According to classical jurists, if de collector be unjust insyd de collection of zakat buh be just insyd ein distribution, de concealment of property from am be allowed. If, for de oda hand, de collector be just insyd de collection buh be unjust insyd de distribution, de concealment of property from am be an obligation (*wajib*). Furthermore, if dem conceal de zakat from a just collector secof na de property owner wan make he pay ein zakat to de poor einself, na dem hold say he for no be punished for am. 

### Distribution
According to de Quran ein Surah Al-Tawba, der be eight categories of people (*asnaf*) wey qualify make dem benefit from zakat funds.

Na Islamic scholars traditionally interprete dis verse as identifying de eight categories of Muslim wey dey follow dey cause to be de proper recipients of zakat:

# Those wey dey live widout means of livelihood (*Al-Fuqarā*'), de poor
# Those wey no fi meet dema basic needs (*Al-Masākīn*), de needy
# To zakat collectors (*Al-Āmilīyn 'Alihā*)
# Make dem persuade those sympathetic to anaa dem expect make dem convert to Islam (*Al-Mu'allafatu Qulūbuhum*), recent converts to Islam, den potential allies insyd de cause of Islam
# To free from slavery anaa servitude (*Fir-Riqāb*), slaves of Muslims wey dem intend make dem free from dema master by means of a *kitabah* contract
# Those wey incur overwhelming debts while dem dey attempt make dem satisfy dema basic needs (*Al-Ghārimīn*), debtors wey in pursuit of a worthy goal dem incur a debt
# Those wey dey fight for a religious cause anaa a cause of God (*Fī Sabīlillāh*), anaa for Jihad insyd de way of Allah by means of pen, word, anaa sword, anaa for Islamic warriors wey dey fight against de unbelievers buh dem no be salaried soldiers.
# Wayfarers, stranded travellers (*Ibnu Al-Sabīl*), travellers wey dey travel plus a worthy goal buh no fi reach dema destination widout financial assistance

Zakat for no be given to one ein own parents, grandparents, kiddies, grand kiddies, spouses anaa de descendants of Muhammad.

### Role insyd society
De zakat be considered by Muslims e be an act of piety thru wich one dey express concern for de well-being of fellow Muslims, as well as dey preserve social harmony between de wealthy den de poor. Zakat dey promote a more equitable redistribution of wealth den dey foster a sense of solidarity amongst members of de *Ummah*.

## Historical practice

Zakat, an Islamic practice wey be initiated by de Islamic prophet Muhammad, na dem first collect am for de first day of Muharram. Na e play an important role thru out ein history. Schact dey suggest dat na de idea of zakat fi enter Islam from Judaism, plus roots insyd de Hebrew den Aramaic word *zakut*. However, sam Islamic scholars disagree dat de Qur'anic verses for zakat (anaa zakah) get roots insyd Judaism.

Zakat be one of de five pillars of Islam, den insyd various Islamic polities of de past na ebe expected to be paid by all practising Muslims wey get de financial means (*nisab*). For addition to dema zakat obligations, na Muslims be encouraged make dem make voluntary contributions (*sadaqat*). Dem no dey collect de zakat from non-Muslims, although dem be required make dem pay de *jizyah* tax. Dey depend for de region, de dominant portion of zakat go typically to *Amil* (de zakat collectors) anaa Sabīlillāh (those wey dey fight for religious cause, de caretaker of local mosque, anaa those wey dey work insyd de cause of God such as dem dey proselytize non-Muslims make dem convert to Islam).

## Contemporary practice

According to de researcher Russell Powell insyd 2010, na zakat be mandatory by state law insyd Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, den Yemen. Na der be government-run voluntary zakat contribution programs insyd Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Maldives den de United Arab Emirates.

### Zakat status insyd Muslim countries

### Collection

Today, insyd chaw Muslim countries, Zakat be for de discretion of Muslims over how den whether make dem pay, typically be enforced by fear of God, peer pressure, den an individual ein personal feelings. Among de Sunni Muslims, Zakat committees, link to a religious cause anaa local mosque, collect zakat. Among de Shia Muslims, deputies on behalf of Imams collect de zakat.

Insyd six of de 47 Muslim-majority countries—Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan den Yemen—zakat be obligatory wey ebe collected by de state. Insyd Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, den Bangladesh, de zakat be regulated by de state, buh contributions be voluntary.

### Distribution
De primary sources of sharia sanso no dey specify to whom de zakat for be paid – to zakat collectors wey dey claim to represent one class of zakat beneficiary (for example, poor), collectors wey na dem dey represent religious bodies, anaa collectors wey dey represent de Islamic state. Na dis cause significant conflicts den allegations of zakat abuse within de Islamic community, both historically den insyd modern times.

*Fi Sabillillah* be de most prominent *asnaf* insyd Southeast Asian Muslim societies, wer e broadly construe to include funding missionary work, Quranic schools den anything else wey dey serve de Islamic community (*ummah*) in general.

### Role insyd society
Insyd 2012, na Islamic financial analysts estimate annual zakat spending between US$200 billion den US$1 trillion per year, wich go be at least 15 times more dan global humanitarian aid wey de United Nations track. Islamic scholars den development workers state dat chaw of dis zakat practice be mismanaged, wasted anaa ineffective. About a quarter of de Muslim world continue dey live on $1.25 a day anaa less, according to de 2012 report.

A 1999 study of Sudan den Pakistan, wer zakat be mandated by de state, estimate dat na zakat proceeds range between 0.3 den 0.5 percent of GDP, while a more recent report put zakat proceeds insyd Malaysia for 0.1% of GDP. Dese numbers be far below wat na dem expect wen de governments of dese countries triy make dem Islamize dema economies, wey de collected amount be too small make e get a sizeable macroeconomic effect.

Insyd a 2014 study, Nasim Shirazi dey state widespread poverty dey persist insyd Islamic world despite zakat collections every year. Over 70% of de Muslim population insyd chaw Muslim countries be impoverished den dey live on less dan US$2 per day. Insyd over 10 Muslim-majority countries, na over 50% of de population live on less dan $1.25 per day income, Shirazi dey state. Zakat so far fail make e relieve large scale absolute poverty among Muslims insyd chaw Muslim countries.

## Related terms

Zakat be required of Muslims per. For non-Muslims wey dey live insyd Islamic state, na historically dey see sharia as mandating *jizya* (poll tax). Oda forms of taxation for Muslims anaa non-Muslims, wey na dem use insyd Islamic history, dey include *kharaj* (land tax), *khums* (tax on booty den loot dem seize from non-Muslims, sudden wealth), *ushur* (tax at state border, sea port, den each city border on goods movement, customs), *kari* (house tax) den *chari* (dem sam times call am *maara*, pasture tax).

### ''Zakat al-Fitr''
*Zakat al-Fitr* anaa *Sadaqat al-Fitr* be anoda, smaller charitable obligation, mandatory for all Muslims—male anaa female, minor anaa adult as long as he/she get de means make dem do so—dem traditionally dey pad am for de end of de fasting insyd de Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Dem dey use de collected amount take pay de zakat collectors den to de poor Muslims so say dem fi be provided plus a means make dem celebrate 'Eid al-Fitr (de festival of breaking de fast)bdey follow Ramadan, along plus de rest of de Muslims.

Zakat al-Fitr be a fixed amount dem assess per person, while Zakat al mal dey base on personal income den property. According to one source, de Hidaya Foundation, de suggested Zakat al Fitr donation dey based on de price of 1 Saa (approx. 3&nbsp;kg) of rice anaa wheat at local costs, (as of 2015, approximately $7.00 insyd de U.S.).

## References


### Books den articles

* P. Bearman ed. (2012). *Encyclopaedia of Islam*, 2nd ed. Brill Online. 
* Joseph J. Cordes, Robert D. Ebel, Jane Gravelle ed. (2005). *Encyclopedia of Taxation and Tax Policy*. Urban Institute
* John L. Esposito ed. (2009). *The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World*. Oxford University Press.
* Hunter, Shireen; Malik, Huma; Senturk, Recep (2005). *Islam and Human Rights: Advancing a U.S.–Muslim Dialogue*. Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2005.

## Read further

* Timur Kuran (2019). "Zakat: Islam's Missed Opportunity to Limit Predatory Taxation".
* 
* 
* Fiqh al Zakah (Vol. I), Dr. Yusuf al Qardawi
* The Zakat Handbook: A Practical Guide for Muslims in the West
* The Institution of Zakat: An Obligation and an Opportunity (2005) The Central Zakat Committee of The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago

## External links

*Shia Muslims' view on Zakat
*Sunni Muslims' view on Zakat
*"Peasant opposition to the Islamic Zakat and the Christian Tithe", James Scott (1987), *Comparative Studies in Society and History*
*"The Influential Legacy of Dutch Islamic Policy on the Formation of Zakat (ALMS) Law in Modern Indonesia", Arskal Salim (2006), *Pacific Rim Law & Policy Review*