What is Zakat?
Zakat is an act of worship for Muslims. The word ‘Zakat’ means cleanliness, growth, blessing and praise; we hope you give and discover all of this through your incredible gift of Zakat. By giving a small portion of one’s assets to the needy people in your community that find themselves in vulnerable situations, a Muslim purifies one’s wealth and makes the wealth gained a pleasure to Allah.
Zakat is a commandment from Allah (SWT) to Muslims. It is stressed in both the Qur’an and the Sunnah. In fact, the word Zakat is mentioned 30 times in the Qur’an.
It’s also one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the shahadah (declaring the oneness of Allah), salah (prayer), sawm (fasting) and Hajj (the pilgrimage).
Who pays Zakat?
All able Muslims (those who meet the requirement of zakat as dependent upon nisab and hawl—see below) are required to contribute a fixed portion of their wealth – 2.5% of savings — to help those in need.
How much is Zakat?
Your Zakat is calculated based on the net assets you have at the end of a one-year period. To calculate how much Zakat you owe, you can contact your local authorities, which will be found at the end of this article.
What are Nisab and Hawl?
Nisab is the smallest amount of wealth a Muslim must have (after calculating essential expenses) to be eligible to pay zakat. Nisab equals the present value of 3 ounces of gold (87.48 grams).
Disclaimer: this number may change daily depending on the gold exchange rate.
Hawl is the ending period for a zakat asset, one lunar year. This means that the wealth on which zakat ought to be paid must have been held for at least one entire year. Some forms of zakat do not involve hawl, such as for harvests, when zakat should be paid at the time of the harvest.
For clarity on the Nisab and Hail, it is suggested that you consult with your Zakat Authorities.
Five Benefits of Giving Zakat
1. It purifies your wealth
Zakat spiritually purifies your wealth and soul. It’s a way to learn discipline, show your obedience to Allah (SWT), and increase love for your brothers and sisters worldwide.
2. A sign of brotherhood
If there ever was a time we needed unity and came together, it’s now. The Qur’an describes us Muslims as brothers in faith, and Zakat is one of the best ways to demonstrate this brotherhood.
“But (even so), if they repent, establish regular prayers, and give their Zakat, they are your brethren in Faith.”
Zakat is a way of increasing love, harmony and connection between Muslims.
3. A sign of a faithful community
“The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, pay their Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His Mercy: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.” (Surah Al-Taubah 9:71)
As Allah (SWT) says above, those who fulfil the order of paying their Zakat not only fulfil the trust He enjoined on them but, in doing so, become of those who attain His Mercy.
4. Gaining closeness to Allah (SWT)
Zakat is both a physical and a spiritual act, and thereby it’s a way of gaining proximity to Allah (SWT).
5. The removal of sins
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Giving charity wipes away sins just as water extinguishes fire.”
The Impact of Zakat on Society?
The system of Zakat ensures proper distribution of wealth and has a broad impact on the entire set-up of an ideal Muslim society. If it is established as an institution, it will create a collective social security scheme for mutual help/sympathy. The resources of the rich can be further utilised for the benefit of the poor and subsequent social development of the entire society.
Being obligatory for those who qualify as donors, Zakat is practically a system of social equity that ensures that the gap between the rich and the poor is lessened in society. It predetermines the donors and the recipients to ensure a fair redistribution of wealth.
What is the difference between Zakat and Sadaqat?
In the language of the Holy Qur’an, zakat and Sadaqat are the same. But in practice, Sadaqat is the term used to indicate voluntary charitable giving, while zakat is mandatory.
What to do when you do not understand the terminologies and procedures of Zakat?
Alhamdulillah in Malaysia, we have dedicated authorities responsible for educating and distributing the Zakat of our Ummah in each territory.
For professional advice and follow-up, you can call Pusat Pungutan Zakat if you are in Kuala Lumpur or Lembaga Zakat Selangor if you are in Selangor.
Pusat Pungutan Zakat WP: 1-300-88-5757
Lembaga Zakat Selangor: 1-300-88-4343
They can assist you with everything necessary to obtain all the information and clarification needed to proceed with your Islamic obligations and worship.
Do not delay the good you can do today to tomorrow!
We pray for Allah to accept all your good deeds. Ameen!
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