This document discusses the importance and obligation of zakat in Islam. It explains that zakat means purification and is obligatory for Muslims who possess wealth above a minimum threshold. Zakat purifies one's wealth and soul, and is meant to help the poor and needy. The document covers various topics related to zakat such as the types of wealth it applies to, how it is calculated, who receives it, and virtues of paying zakat. It emphasizes that neglecting zakat is a major sin in Islam.
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Contents
1. LITERALLY ZAKAT MEANS……………………………………………………………………………1
2. OBLIGATION OF ZAKAT…………………………………………………………………………….…1
3. IMPORTANCE OF ZAKAT……………………………………………………………………………..2
4. THE BENEFITS OF PAYING ZAKAT………………………………………………………………..3
5. KINDS OF PROPERTY ON WHICH ZAKAT IS OBLIGATORY………………………….…3
6. TYPES OF WEALTH ON WHICH ZAKAT IS IMPOSED…………………………………..…4
7. CALCULATION OF ZAKAT…………………………………………………………………………....4
8. DISTRIBUTION OF ZAKAT…………………………………………………………………………….5
9. TYPES OF WEALTH ON WHICH ZAKAT IS NOT IMPOSED……………………………..5
10. RECIPIENTS OF ZAKAT………………………………………………………………………………...5
11. PERSONS WHO CANNOT BE GIVEN ZAKAT……………………………………………….…6
12. VIRTUES OF ZAKAT……………………………………………………………………………………..6
13. THE PUNISHMENT FOR NOT GIVING ZAKAT…………………………………………….…6
The Best Use…………………………………………………………………………………………….…7
Appeal………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7
3. IMPORTANCE & OBLIGATION OF ZAKAT 1
By Mulana Imran Khan (Naqshbandi)
1. LITERALLY ZAKAT MEANS
Blessing, purification, increase and goodness. It is so called as it blesses the wealth from
which it is taken and protects it from misfortunes.
Ibn Taimiah said,
"The soul of one who gives Zakat is blessed and so is his wealth."
Zakat (alms) is the name of what a believer returns out of his or her wealth to the neediest
of Muslims for the sake of the Almighty Allah. It is called Zakat because the word Zakat is
from Zakaa which means, to increase, purify and bless. The obligation of Zakat is mandatory
on every Muslim who possesses the minimum Nisaab. Allah (SWT) stated that: “Of their
goods take alms so that thou mightiest purify and sanctify them...” (Surah 9: Verse 103)
Imam Ibn Hazim said that every Muslim young or old needs to cleanse his or her wealth with
Zakat because of generality of the evidence.
2. OBLIGATION OF ZAKAT
The literally meaning of Zakat is to cleanse, to grow and to increase. It is a pillar of Islam.
Zakat is obligatory for, who has certain amount of wealth out of which he required to pay a
specific portion. It is very blissful to pay Zakat for one gets tremendous reward for that in the
hereafter. Negligence of this part of Islam is a major sin. There are the numbers of verses of
the Quran which speak about prayer and Zakat altogether and highlight their importance. It
is an oft‐repeated verse of the Quran.
“Establish prayers and pay Zakat”
The Prophet (PBUH) has said:
"God has made Zakat obligatory simply to purify your remaining property"
There is no equivalent practice in other religions. Hence, while terms such as 'charity (poor‐
tax)', 'alms‐tax' and 'poor‐due' have been coined by various translators, none of these terms
actually conveys the true sense of the word Zakat. Zakat is not a tax levied by a government,
nor is it a voluntary contribution. It is first and foremost a duty enjoined by God and hence a
form of worship. In Qur'an the payment of Zakat is frequently mentioned in the same
sentence or verse as the establishment of Salat (prayers).
"Lo! Those who believe and do good deeds and establish Salat and pay Zakat, their
reward is with their Sustainer; and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve."
(2:277)
"These are verses of the Book full of wisdom, a guide and mercy to the doers of good ‐those
who establish Salat and pay Zakat and have the assurance of the Hereafter.
These are on guidance from their Sustainer, and these are the ones who will prosper." (31:1‐
5)
From a practical point of view, it is the duty of an Islamic state to collect Zakat from every
Muslim who meets the requirements for paying it. The first Caliph, Abu Bakr Siddiq,
declared war against those tribes who refused to pay Zakat while still professing Islam and
observing daily prayers.. He reasoned that the Divine law (Shari'ah) cannot be divided and
that one cannot follow part of the Holy Book and cast aside other parts.
However, in a non‐Islamic state it is up to the individual Muslim to be conscientious enough
to voluntarily fulfil this duty to Allah and to his community, and it is up to his brother
Muslims to remind him of this duty.
The obligatory nature of Zakah is firmly established in the Qur’an, the Sunnah (or hadith),
and the consensus of the companions and the Muslim scholars.
6. IMPORTANCE & OBLIGATION OF ZAKAT 4
By Mulana Imran Khan (Naqshbandi)
• He or she is an adult, sane, free and Muslim.
• He/she must possess wealth in excess of specified minimum (Nisaab) excluding his
or her personal needs (clothing, household furniture, utensils, cars etc. are termed
article of personal needs).
• It should be possessed for a complete lunar year.
• It should be of productive nature from which one can derive profit or benefit such as
merchandise for business, gold, silver, livestock etc.
The amount of wealth which makes one liable for Zakat is called Nisaab. The Nisaab as fixed
by Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is as follows:
Grams Tolas Grains Troy Oz.
GOLD 87.48 7.50 1350 2.8125
SILVER 612.36 52.50 9450 19.6875
Nisaab of cash, stock or bonds, other cash assets is the equivalent amount of Gold or Silver.
Nisaab is calculated by adding up the cash value of all the assets such as gold, silver,
currency etc. and if it is equal to or in excess of the minimum Nisaab as specified in the
above table, the Zakat is due at the rate of 2.5%.
The payment of Zakat is compulsory on the excess wealth which is equal to or exceeds the
value of Nisaab, and which is possessed for a full Islamic year. If such wealth decreases
during the course of the year and increases again to the value of Nisaab before the end of
the year, the Zakat then must be calculated on the full amount that is possessed at the end
of the year.
6. TYPES OF WEALTH ON WHICH ZAKAT IS IMPOSED
1. Gold and silver, in any form.
2. Cash, bank notes, stocks, bonds etc.
3. Merchandise for business, equal to the value of Nisaab.
4. Live stock.
5. On income derived from rental business
7. CALCULATION OF ZAKAT
1. To calculate Zakat on jewelry etc. one must first determine the gold or silver content and
then calculate the Zakat according to current market price.
2. If the Gold possessed is less than 87.48 grams(7.5 tola) or if silver possessed is less then
612.36 grams(52.5 tola), but the value of both combined is equal to or exceeds the
Nisaab of either Gold or Silver, the Zakat will be due.
3. In the event of an article not being of pure gold or pure silver, but containing a mixture
of other metals and the gold or silver content is more than the other metal, it will be
regarded as gold or silver and Zakat will be due. But in the case where other metals is of
greater quantity than either gold or silver, Zakat will not be due on this article.
4. For stocks (shares held in a company), Zakat is calculated based upon the current market
value. As machinery, land, fixtures and fittings, furniture, buildings etc. are exempt from
Zakat, one is allowed to subtract these from the total asset. This could be obtained from
annual reports. For example, if one has shares worth $1000 and machinery, land etc.,
are worth 5% of the total asset, then deduct $50 for these assets; afterwards deduct the
liabilities of the company proportionately to the percentage of shares held. Zakat must
be calculated on the balance.
8. DISTRIBUTION OF ZAKAT
7. IMPORTANCE & OBLIGATION OF ZAKAT 5
By Mulana Imran Khan (Naqshbandi)
1. Zakat should be given as soon as possible after it becomes due.
2. All of the Zakat can be given to one person or to several persons.
3. A poor man cannot be paid for his work from Zakat nor can Zakat be given in payment of
services, except to the people appointed by the Islamic government to collect Zakat.
4. Zakat will only be valid if the recipient is made the owner of that amount. If, for
example, a few needy persons are fed a meal from Zakat money, then Zakat will not be
fulfilled as they were not made owners of the food.
5. Zakat cannot be given for the construction of Masjid, Madrasah, Hospital, a well, a
bridge or any other public amenity but, if students of Madaris are made owner and they
allow the administration to use it in anyway, then it can be used in all legal assignments
but signed undertaken is required from the students or at least verbal permission should
be taken from them.
6. Zakat can be paid in kind from the same merchandise on which it is due, or alternatively,
it could be paid in cash.
9. TYPES OF WEALTH ON WHICH ZAKAT IS NOT IMPOSED
1. On any metals other than gold or silver.
2. Fixtures and fittings of a shop, car, trucks or any delivery vehicle etc., which is used in
running business.
3. Diamonds, pearls, other precious or semi precious stones which are for personal use.
4. There is no Zakat on personal residence, household furniture, pots and pan, personal
clothing, whether they are in use or not.
5. There is no Zakat on a person whose liabilities exceeds or equals his assets. (Home
Mortgage in this country is not to be counted as personal liability for the Zakat purpose).
10. RECIPIENTS OF ZAKAT
Those who are eligible to receive Zakat are mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.
"The alms are only for the poor, the needy, those who collect them,
those whose hearts are to be reconciled, to free the captives and the debtors,
for the cause of God, and for the travelers; a duty imposed by God.
God is All‐Knowing, AII‐Wise." (9:60)
It should be remembered that these categories of persons who are to be helped by Zakat
were laid down fourteen hundred years ago. They are equally applicable to our own time.
1. The poor: Those who do not have anything to support themselves.
2. The needy: Those people who have some income or earnings but it is not enough to
provide them with basic needs.
3. Zakat collectors: The salaries of the workers (Zakat collectors) may be paid from this
fund.
4. Converts: Those people who have embraced Islam and. Attempts should be made to
settle them in a normal life.
5. People who are not free: This category would include payment of ransom for freeing
Muslim salves from slavery from their owners.
6. Debtors: People who are unable to pay debts incurred due to pressing lawful needs.
7. Wayfarers and travelers: Those people who are rendered helpless outside their city.
8. In the Cause of Allah
In the wider sense, this channel of distribution covers all methods of promoting the Islamic
faith, whether through Jihad, propagating the enactment of the Islamic legislation or
defending Islam through the intellectual confrontation against its opposing hostile trends.
8. IMPORTANCE & OBLIGATION OF ZAKAT 6
By Mulana Imran Khan (Naqshbandi)
This channel of distribution includes the following:
a. Financing Jihad activities to spread Islam and repel enemy’s attacks against Muslim
countries.
b. Supporting fruitful individual and collective efforts aiming at spreading Islamic rule,
establishing Islamic law, and resisting plans to marginalize Islam and its law.
c. Financing the Islamic centers (Madaris) and mosques established in especially non‐
Muslim countries, directed by faithful men with the aim of adopting valid methods to
spread Islam in these countries.
d. Financing the serious efforts exerted to support the Muslim minorities under non‐
Muslim rule.
11. PERSONS WHO CANNOT BE GIVEN ZAKAT
1. Zakat cannot be given to the descendants of Muhammad (P.B.U.H).
2. Zakat cannot be given to parents and grandparents. In the same manner one's children
and grandchildren cannot be given Zakat. A husband and wife cannot give Zakat to each
other.
3. Zakat contributions cannot be given to such institutions or organizations that do not give
the rightful recipients possession of Zakat, but instead use Zakat funds for constructions,
investment or salaries.
12. VIRTUES OF ZAKAT
Allah says in the Quran:
"The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that
of a grain of corn. It grows seven ears and each bearing a hundred grains.
Allah increases manifold to whom He pleases." (Quran 2:261)
It is stated in the Hadith that by giving Zakat the following benefits are derived:
1. Gain the pleasure of Allah.
2. Increase in wealth and protection from losses.
3. Allah's forgiveness and blessings.
4. Protection from the wrath of Allah and from a bad death.
5. A shelter on the Day of Judgment;
6. Security from seventy misfortunes.
13. THE PUNISHMENT FOR NOT GIVING ZAKAT
Allah says in the Quran:
"And there are those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in
the way of Allah, announce to them a most grievous penalty (when) on the Day of
Judgment heat will be produced out of that wealth in the fire of Hell. Then with it they
will be branded on their forehead and their flanks and backs. (It will be said to them)
This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves, taste then the treasure
that you have been hoarding." (Al‐Quran 9:34‐35)
The Best Use
The best use of Zakat in the present era is to promote Islamic teachings by it. For that
purpose Islamic Madaris and students of Islamic studies (Dars‐e‐Nizami specially) are really
9. IMPORTANCE & OBLIGATION OF ZAKAT 7
By Mulana Imran Khan (Naqshbandi)
deserve for it. Al Maqsood Institute of Islamic and Modern Sciences (Jamia Maqsoodia)
which is administered by ISLAMI ROOHANI MISSION is the institute which collects Zakat
from the affluent and spends it in feeding, clothing and educating the students of Islamic
studies. Those students who really want to do something for Islam are educated and fed
there free of cost. They are poor, needy and belong from different territories of Pakistan and
really deserve of your assistance.
Appeal
ISLAMI ROOHANI MISSION appeals, please give your Zakat and Sadaqats to us to promote
Islamic teachings and to feed and cloth those who will be Islamic scholars of near future.
MASJID‐O‐MADARSA MAQSOOD‐OL‐ULOOM
A/C No. 098301010026832
Account type current
Branch Code 0983
Branch Name Ibn‐e‐Sina Road Branch
Address Ibn‐e‐Sina Road, Shahrah‐e‐Ibn‐e‐Sina Road,Karachi.
OR Visit
www.islamiroohanimission.org