Briefly explain the benefits of zakat. For whom is zakat a fardh? To whom cannot zakat be given? To whom can zakat not be given? Which assets do not require zakat? How much zakat is given for each type of good?What is nisab? What is sadaqah al-fitr?
Topics:
- The importance and benefits of zakat
- Who must give zakat?
- What is Nisab?
- To whom is zakat given?
- To whom cannot the zakat be given?
- Assets that do not require zakat
- Assets that require zakat and the amounts of zakat
- Sadaqah al-Fitr (Fitra)
THE IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF ZAKAT
The fourth condition of Islam is to give zakat. It has became fardh prior to fasting in the second year of the Hijrah. It is a type of worship that is performed with wealth.
Zakat is obligatory upon a wealthy person (according to religious rules) to give one fortieth of their money to a poor Muslim. Zakat is mentioned together with prayer thirty seven times in the holy Qur’an, which shows the importance of zakat in our religion.
Zakat is a worship cleaning the heart from the stinginess and purifying the wealth of the rights of the poor over it and strenghtening the feelings of compassion and mercy of the wealthy. The jealousy and envy in the hearts of the poor are removed due to zakat and replaced with the feelings of love and respect towards the wealthy who provide financial assistance to them. The unity and brotherhood in the community is strengthened.
Islam solves the problems of a community and meets several fundamental needs. Zakat is a command from Allah and is a form of social assistance. Thanks to zakat the wealth of a person increases. Zakat prevents wealth from disappearing and from the evil of bad people. Our beloved Prophet (saw) commands: “Protect your wealth with zakat.” [66]
Zakat is a measure of our sincerity on our religion, Islam. A person who gives zakat shows how sincere as a servant of Allah. It fulfils the duty of gratitude towards our Lord who has given us this blessing.
A wealthy person who gives zakat, helps the needy and puts a smile on the face of the poor is a good and helpful person.
WHO MUST GIVE ZAKAT?
The people who fulfil the following conditions are obliged to pay zakat:
1) To be a Muslim,
2) To be sane,
3) To have reached the age of puberty,
4) To be free and independent,
5) To be wealthy according to Islamic rulings (To have at least the nisab amount of wealth after essential necessities and debts are met),
6) To have the property or money to give zakat,
- a) To have reached the nisab amount (the value of 80.18 grams of gold),
- b) To have owned the wealth for at least one Iskamic lunar year,
- c) For the wealth to have be actually or legally increasing.
WHAT IS NISAB?
Nisab is the measurement of wealth by our religion except for debts and basic needs into consideration. Whoever has at least this amount or more of property or money is considered wealthy according to Islam.
It is required to have at least the nisab amount of property or money to pay the fitra or to sacrifice a qurban. However, it is not necessary for one year to pass on the ownership of the property or money or to be increasing.
TO WHOM IS ZAKAT GIVEN?
The following are the people to whom zakat can be given:
1) The poor: People who are not considered as wealthy according to Islam. People who do not own the minimum nisab amount in wealth.
2) The needy: People who do not own anything.
3) People in debt: People who do not own more wealth than their debts.
4) Traveler: A traveler is a wealthy person who is away from their homeland without money and who has nothing in hand. (Zakat can be paid to those people, in an enough amount so that they can reach their homeland).
5) Those on Allah’s path: These are people who are stranded without money while travelling for jihad or performing hajj and those who have left their jobs for the advancement of education.
We should observe the following order when giving zakat:
First our siblings, the children of our siblings, uncles, aunts followed by other relatives and neighbors. After this, we can give to the poor in our neighborhood and the country we live. It is better to give the zakat to poor people in order to cover their actual needs rather than people who will spend the zakat on evil activities and waste it.
TO WHOM CAN ZAKAT NOT BE GIVEN?
Zakat cannot be given to the following:
1) Mother, father, grandmother and grandfather,
2) Son, the children of your son, daughter, the children of your daughter and the children born from these children,
3) The wealthy,
4) Non-Muslims,
5) A spouse.
ASSETS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE ZAKAT
Zakat is not required to be given for the assets that are necessary for the need of a person or his dependents. These assets are called “hawaij al-asliyyah.” These are mainly:
The homes that you live in, your furniture, clothing, vehicles, books that are not for commerce, instruments of an artist, food and ornaments that are not on sale such as pearls, diamonds and emeralds with the exception of gold and silver.
ASSETS THAT REQUIRE ZAKAT AND THE AMOUNT OF ZAKAT
The nisab of the assets that require zakat and zakat amount are as follows:
1) Gold: One fortieth of at least 80.18 grams or more,
2) Silver: One fortieth of at least 561 grams or more,
3) Money: One fortieth of the minimum nisab amount or more. (The basic measurement of the nisab amount for zakat is to have money equivalent of at least 80.18 grams of gold).
4) Trade goods: One fortieth of all trade goods equivalent to at least the nisab amount or more.
5) Sheep and goats: One sheep or goat for every forty of them.
6) Cattle: One calf at least one year old for every thirty cattle.
7) Camel: One sheep or goat for every five camels.
The amount of zakat changes as the number of animals increases. The zakat for the cutltivated crops is different.
Just as the zakat of the assets mentioned above can be paid in their kind, it can also be given by way of cash of the equivalent value.
The condition of the zakat to be valid is niyyah. When a wealthy person gives zakat to a poor person, they must make the niyyah with their heart. It is not obligatory to be stated with the tongue.
SADAQAH AL-FITR (Fitra)
It is wajib for a Muslim to give sadaqah al-fitr (also called as zakat al-fitra/ fitra)if they have at least the nisab amount of property or its equivalent of money after deducting their debts and essential needs. This is briefly called fitra. For sadaqah al-fitr to be wajib, it is not necessary for one year to pass on the ownership of the property or money or for it to be increasing.
Fitra is a sadaqah that is given to the poor in the month of Ramadan. It is good to give this prior to Eid. It can be given on Eid or even later. It is wajib for a person who is defined as wealthy in religious terms to give fitra for themselves and their children that have not yet attained puberty.
The fitra amount for the four types of food products listed below is:
Type: Amount:
1) Wheat 1460 grams
2) Barley 2920 grams
3) Dried Grapes 2920 grams
4) Dates 2920 grams
Just as these products can be given themselves, you can also give the equivalent value of money. It is more appropriate to give whatever is more useful to the poor. One fitra can only be given to one poor person. It cannot be divided into two. More than one fitra can be given to the same poor person. Fitra is given by making niyyah. However, you do not need to tell the poor recipient that this is fitra. It is acceptable to make the niyyah by heart.
The poor person to whom the zakat can be given can also receive the fitra. People who do not fast during Ramadan with valid reason must also give the fitra if they own at least the nisab amount of property or money.
Wealthy Muslims who give the fitra help the poor to experience the joy of Eid. Thus, they would have paid their debt and done good deeds. Giving the fitra helps the fasting of a person to be accepted by Allah, relieves them of the hardships of the death and protects from the chastisement in the grave.
Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, Basics of Islam, Seyfettin Yazıcı
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