ZAKAT
The concept of Zakat entails donating a portion of your wealth to those in need. In a very basic sense, it essentially that Muslims look out for one another; particularly those brothers and…

“True piety is this: to believe in God, and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the Prophets, to give of one’s substance, however cherished, to kinsmen, and orphans, the needy, the traveler, beggars, and to ransom the slave, to perform the prayer, to pay the zakat.” (Qur’an 2:177)

THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF ZAKAT
The literal meaning of Zakat is ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’. In the Islamic faith, Zakat means purifying your wealth for the will of Allah SWT; to acknowledge that everything we own belongs to Allah SWT and to work towards the betterment of the Muslim Ummah. According to Islamic regulations, Zakat is 2.5% of one year’s total cumulative wealth. This amount is then distributed to the poor. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has said “Whoever pays the zakat on his wealth will have its evil removed from him” (Ibn Khuzaimah and at-Tabaraani).

WHO SHOULD PAY ZAKAT?
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. As such, it is compulsory on Muslims, provided they meet certain conditions and criteria. Any Muslim who possesses the required nisaab (the minimum amount of wealth that one must have before zakat is payable) for one whole year is bound to pay Zakat on that wealth. It is imperative that Muslims know exactly how much Zakat they owe and How to Calculate so that the right amount can be given to the intended recipient. A lot of people choose Ramadan as the month in which they pay their zakat and for good reasons. Ramadan is the month of blessings and the rewards for all good deeds is far greater in this blessed Ramadan that in any other month.

THE BENEFICIARIES OF ZAKAT?
To put it in simple terms, people who are poor and suffering are eligible to receive Zakat money. They can be any of the following:

  • The Poor & The Needy– these people may have some wealth and funds but it is not enough to make up for the nisaab
  • The Destitute– People who have no wealth or funds. They are living their life on the very basics necessities of life.
  • Zakat Collectors– People who collect Zakat as well as distribute it.
    Muslim Converts– This category was specifically designed to get new Muslim converts who were genuinely poor on their feet. It still exists to this day.
  • People in Debt– People who are in debt but cannot pay it back are eligible for Zakat.
  • Travellers –Muslims who are in the middle of their journey and out of money are eligible for zakat Donations

HOW MUSLIM AID USES ZAKAT

With millions of Muslims donating their Zakat to relief aid organizations around the world, it is a pivotal way to fight poverty. Muslim Aid Sri Lanka uses these funds to help poor communities in isolated and remote corners of Sri Lanka. We assist them in starting small businesses and help them gain the skills needed to get back on their feet in today’s economy and essentially come out of poverty. Zakat funds also go towards emergency relief in case of natural disasters like Tsunamis & Flood.

Making the Intention of Zakat

Making an intention is integral in Islam. It can be found in virtually every discipline in the Islamic faith. Muslims make an intention to pray before they pray. The same goes for fasting and Hajj. It is therefore, mandatory to make intention of giving zakat, either at the time of organizing the payment or at the time of payment.

GENERAL CONDITIONS OF ZAKAT
Making Niyat is only half the task. Muslims must also consider the following conditions in order to ensure their Zakat contribution is paid correctly.

Recipient’s Eligibility: It is absolutely imperative that every shred of aid given reaches only those who need it most. As such, recipients of Zakat must be sufficiently poor to receive it. In a nutshell, if they don’t have personal assets that either meet or exceed the nisab, they are eligible to receive Zakat.

  • Paying Zakat In Advance: People who wish to pay for Zakat for future years can certainly do so. Keep in mind that the pre-paid amount can be offset against the actual zakat liability incurred in future years.
  • Payment in Kind: Zakat can be paid in many ways. The ideal way for today’s fast paced world is cash or if some people prefer, they can pay in kind as long as the value of goods are equal to the cash amount and furthermore, the recipient has agreed to accept the goods in kind.

Zakat and Tax:

Some people might think Zakat is a form of tax. It is not. Zakat and tax are two entirely different things. One is a spiritual act and an obligation as a caring human being and the other is a requirement of secular law. The concept of Zakat is to assist the poor and those who are suffering in order to help them end their suffering and get back on their feet.