Zakat
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- This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence.
Zakāt (Arabic: زكاة) is the Islamic concept of tithing and alms. It is an obligation on Muslims to pay 2.5% of their wealth to specified categories in society when their annual wealth exceeds a minimum level (nisab). Zakāt is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
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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] Aims
There are eight categories of people who may receive the collected Zakat:[1]
- Poor people (if they do not have enough to cover their basic needs)
- The Destitute (those with no property or income at all)
- The Collectors
- People Whose Hearts are to be Reconciled (Normally new Muslims or those close to becoming Muslim. Even non-muslims could be included)
- Freeing Slaves
- Debtors (to help those heavily indebted with paying their debts)
- Travellers (who find themselves in difficult circumstances)
It is one of the basic principles of Muslim economy, based on social welfare and fair distribution of wealth.
There have been cases where you can't pay zakat for
- Traditional zakat laws generally do not cover trade.
- It is not permissible to pay zakat to some members of the family (i.e. grandparents, parents, spouses, children), for if they were needy or poor, they are under the custody of the eligible man while Zakat is considered a sort of Public Charity.
- Zakat doesn't become obligatory on a Muslim if he doesn't have a minimum amount in his possession that has remained unchanged for a whole lunar year; any increase in that money during the year waits for the following year and any decrease as long as the total amount is still above the minimum amount is exempted.
In all the four recognised madhabs the fiqh of Zakat (http://wwww.zakatpages.com/about) is very much the same with the key elements that make Zakat compulsory for an individual being: Islam, Freedom, the Nisab, Ownership and a Year's Possession.
[edit] Shi'ite interpretation of Zakat
According to the Shi'ite interpretation, also based on the Qur'an and reported speeches of the prophet Muhammad and his Household, there are two major forms of almsgiving: Khoms ("the fifth"), and Zakat. The Shi'ite 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: [Qur'an 8:41]
- (1) Allah
- (2) the Messenger of Allah
- (3) the near relative of the Messenger (Ahl ul-Bayt)
- (4) the orphans
- (5) needy
- (6) stranded traveler
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 in that in both concepts, they are obligatory on the individual but should not be forced by the governor.
In modern days, Shi'ite 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] Bibliography
- Contemporary Zakat, by Mahmoud Abu-Saud, Zakat and Research Foundation, Ohio, 1988
- Zakat - Raising a Fallen Pillar, by Abdalhaqq Bewley & Amal Abdalhakim-Douglas, Black Stone Press, 2001 http://www.black-stone.net/books
[edit] References
- ^ Ta'leemul Haq. Compiled by Shabbir Ahmed E. Desai.
[edit] See also
- Islamic economics
- Islamic banking
- Kharaj
- Economy of the OIC
- List of Islamic terms in Arabic
- List of ethics articles
- Tithe in Judeo-Christianity
- Tzedakah, a similar concept found in Judaism.
[edit] External links
- Islam Quran Sunnah - The Right Path
- Dompet Dhuafa, Most Credible Zakat Institution in Indonesia
- Rumah Zakat Indonesia, More than just another State-Formed Zakat Management Body but also A Non-Goverment Organization that focus on Humanity Issues
- Zakat Excel sheet calculator
- The Zakat Foundation of America's complete Zakat information page
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| Main topics | Philanthropy • Alms • Tzedakah • Zakat • Altruism • Gift • Donation • Alternative giving • Youth philanthropy • Volunteer • Philanthropist • Charitable contribution • Noblesse oblige |
| Organization types | Non-governmental organization • Registered charity, Charitable trust • Foundation • Non-profit organization • Not-for-profit corporation |
| Additional topics | Charity Navigator • Network for Good • Charity badge • List of charitable foundations |
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