Zakat
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Salafi/Kharijite Sixth pillar of Islam. |
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- This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence.
Zakāt (Arabic: زكاة) is the Islamic concept of tithing and alms.
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[edit] Etymology
Zakāt – classical Arabic: زكوة; modern Arabic: زكاة; Turkish: Zekât; also transliterated zakaat or zakah; "to grow" (in goodness), "increase," "purifying," "foster," "making pure".
[edit] Overview
It is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam and refers to spending a fixed portion of one's wealth for the poor or needy, including people whose hearts need to be reconciled, slaves, those in "debt," those in the way of God, and the travelers in the society.
The basis of zakat is given in the Qur'an: "Of their goods take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf, verily thy prayers are a source of security for them." (9:103)
A Muslim may also donate an additional amount as an act of voluntary charity (sadaqah), in order to achieve additional divine reward.
There are two main types of zakât:
- Zakât on traffic
(zakât-ul-fitr) is a per head payment equivalent to cost of around 2.25 kilograms of the main food of the region (this may be wheat, dates or rice, depending on the place) paid during the month of Ramadan by the head of a family for him/herself and his/her dependents to the zakât collector (amil).(Right now in the U.S. the zakat on traffic is $7.50)
- Zakât on wealth (zakât-ul-mal) comprises all other types of zakât, such as on business, on savings, on income, on crops, on livestock, on gold, on minerals, on hidden treasures unearthed, etc.
The payment of zakât is obligatory on all Muslims. In current usage it is interpreted as a 2.5% levy on most valuables and savings held for a full lunar year, if the total value is more than a basic minimum known as nisab (3 ounces or 87.48g of gold). At present (as of 5 October 2006), nisab is approximately US $1,725 or an equivalent amount in any other currency [1].
Zakât is distributed among 8 categories of people:
- Faqir - One who has neither material possessions nor means of livelihood.
- Miskin - One with insufficient means of livelihood to meet basic needs.
- Amil - Workers associated with the collection and distribution of Zakat.
- Muallafathul Quloob - One who converts to Islam. Literally those whose hearts are softened.
- Riqab - One who wants to free himself from bondage or the shackles of slavery.
- Gharmin - One who is in debt (money borrowed to meet basic, halal expenditure).
- Fisabilillah - Literal meaning 'In the way of God', but it is used for Jihad.
- Ibnus Sabil - One who is stranded in journey.
[edit] Restrictions
There have been cases where you don't/can't pay zakat for/to.
- Traditional zakat laws generally does not cover trade
- It is not permissible to pay zakat to some members of the family (i.e. grandparents, parents, spouses, children)
- If a Muslim doesn't have enough money to pay zakat
It should be noted that zakat should be paid so in the following year, the zakat money should not been given to that same person.
[edit] Shiite Interpretation of Zakat
According to the Shiite interpretation, also based on the Quran and reported speeches of the prophet Muhammad and his Household, there are two major forms of almsgiving: Khoms ("the fifth"), and Zakat. The Shiite consider both types to be a personal obligation, meaning that every Muslim has the full responsibility of purifying his own money, but the governor should have no force upon any individual to give up Zakat or Khoms. Khoms ("the fifth") is taken from war loots, metals, treasures, divings (pearls and so), and the money that is a mix between halal (pure) and haram (taboo). In modern days, the most common type of khoms that is extracted is of the last type mentioned before. Khoms for money is done by taking the fifth of the increment or the increase in the income stored after one lunar year, and this is done after paying debts or bills (if any).
An example calculation of the Khoms tithe: A man starts with $5000 in his bank account; on the same day after one lunar year passes, he has $5600 in his bank account (having already paid his bills and debts), and so must take the fifth of his $600 earnings, that is $120. What remains after the fifth (that is 5600-120=$5480) is recorded; if after one lunar year the man has more than $5480, then he finds the new difference and extracts a fifth from it as before. If instead he has less than $5480, then he has no earnings on which to pay Khoms. The Khoms is paid specifically for any Hashimite person, meaning a person that has his roots extend to the tribe of Bani Hashim (the tribe of prophet Muhammad) or a descendant of prophet Muhammad in general.
Zakat on the other hand, according to the Shiite teachings, is assigned to specific goods. There are nine types of goods from which Zakat is paid out: gold, silver, camels, cows, sheep, wheat, barley, dates, and raisins. Each type has its own "nisab," or a limit under which Zakat need not be paid. Zakat is paid to the people mentioned in the overview of this article, although never to a Hashimite. Charity money or Sadaqah is never to be paid to a Hashimite since it is a taboo for a Hashimite to take such money, if it is not Khoms or a gift. Notice that in both concepts, they are obligatory on the individual but should not be forced by the governor.
In modern days, Shiite muslims are concerned with Khoms more than Zakat mainly because few of them are farmers and own the goods by which Zakat is paid out. On the other hand, Khoms is given by many people starting from the middle class and above that, and especially by employees.
[edit] See also
- Islamic economics
- Islamic banking
- Kharaj
- List of Islamic terms in Arabic
- List of ethics articles
- Tithe in Judeo-Chritianity
[edit] External links
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- Zakat Excel sheet calculator
- AbdurRahman.org - articles and books about Zakat
