What is the meaning of zakat?

Answer 1

Zakah is an annual tax, at the end of the year a Muslim gives a percentage of what she or he has left to a collecter, who then gives it to a needy cause
Zakah is when u have to give 2.5% of your income for the year to Allah this is called Zakah. If poor people havent got extra money then they don't have to pay, but people (rich) who have money left must may Zakah.

Answer 2

Allah ta'ala has given us wealth for our livelihood. All men do not possess equal wealth. Some have less and some have more. Allah ta'la has determined the share of the poor in the wealth of the rich. The system of Zakat has been set up with a view to helping the poor. Zakat literally means purity, clarity and rectification. In the terminology of Shariat, a fixed part of the wealth of a Muslim is to be given at the end of every year to the sectors determined by Allah. If Zakat is paid, wealth becomes purified. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. Payment of Zakat is faraz. In respect of importance Zakat is next to Salat. About Zakat it is said in the Holy Quran : "Establish Salat and pay zakat" (sura An Noor -5). The prophet (Sm) says about this : "Those for whom Zakat is Farz, will be severely punished by Allah in the life hereafter if they do not pay it." In fact, no Muslim can remain a real Muslim unless he/she pays Zakat. Almighty says: "Destruction of the Mushriks is inevitable, because they do not pay Zakat. So, not to pay Zakat is the act of the Mushriks."

Zakat is one of the pillars of economy established by Allah. To deny Zakat is like denying Allah and Allah's Prophet (Sm). According to Islamic law, the persons who is able to pay Zakat, must pay it.

Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddiq (R), the first Caliph of Islam, fought against the persons who denied Zakat in the same way as he fought against Kafirs. He considered the man who denies to pay Zakat as Murtab (one deviated from Islam).

The main aim of paying Zakat is to change the condition of the so that they can gain financial solvency and have on want.

A lot of poor people can be provide work by collecttng Zakat in our country. If we can provide with the work to the unemployed poor people by developing small cottage industries, one day there will be no needy people in the country. As a result, peace and other will come back in the country, if Zakat is paid regularly, there will be no distinction between the rich and the poor. So the rich must pay there Zakat duly.
charity or give to the poor

zakat is a tax of 2.5 percent of savings each year
Charity, donation, helping the poor and needy

Answer 3

Zakāt (Arabic: زكاة‎ , sometimes "Zakāh/Zekat") or "alms giving", one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is the giving 2.5% of one's possessions (extra wealth) to charity, generally to the poor and needy. It is often compared to the system of tithing and alms, but it serves principally as the welfare contribution to poor and deprived Muslims, although others may have a rightful share. It is the duty of an Islamic community not just to collect zakat but to distribute it fairly as well. As a mandatory requirement of the Sunni branch of the Islamic faith, every year 2.5% of one's wealth is given away to the poor.

Zakat and sadqah are acts of worship undertaken as a means of spiritual purification, as it can absolve a Muslim of some of their sins. It is the only tax sanctioned to the state according to Islamic law or sharia. Obligatory

• Zakat on wealth, including savings (traditionally gold and silver), investments, and trading/turnover stock (and cash in hand)
• Zakat on livestock which covers camels, cattle and sheep and goats as one category
• Zakat on agricultural produce, including grains, pulses, cereals and in some case other produce if they are to be dried or pressed for oil
• Zakat on the produce of mines and also buried treasure

and in some cases

• The Jizya

Zakat-al-fitrZakat al-fitr is very different to the Islamic pillar of Zakat. It is connected to the pillar of Sawm (fasting in Ramadan) and acts as a purification of the fast itself.

• Almsgiving on self, Zakat al-fitr (fast-breaking zakah)

Voluntary

• Donation to build mosques and schools
• Helping non-Muslims (those in need of non-Muslim citizens).

  Eight categories of individuals may receive the zakat

  • 1. The needy (Muslims) - Fuqara'
  • 2. Extremely poor (Muslims) - Al-Masakin
  • 3. Those employed to collect - Aamileen
  • 4. Those whose hearts are to be won - Muallafatul Quloob
  • 5. To free the captives - Ar-Riqaab
  • 6. Those in debt (Muslims only) - Al Ghaarimeen
  • 7. In the way of Allah - Fi sabil Allah - aka jihad
  • 8. Wayfarer (Muslims)- Ibnus-Sabeel Wealth on which Zakah is payableAmount which determines the payment of Zakah (Nisab)Rate of Zakah1. Agricultural produce5 Awsuq(653 kg (1,440 lb)) per harvest5% produce in case of irrigated land; 10% of produce from rain fed land.2. Gold, silver, ornaments of gold and silver85 g (3 oz) of gold or 595 g (21 oz) of silver2.5% of value3. Cash in bank or in handValue of 595 g (21 oz) of silver2.5% of amount4. Trading goodsValue of 595 g (21 oz) of silver2.5% value of goods5. Produce of minesAny quantity20% of value of produce6. Cows & buffaloes30 in number1 for the first 59, 2 up to 89, 3 up to 150, 1 one-year old for the first 39, 1 two-year old up to 59, 2 one-year old up to 697 Goats & sheep40 in number1 for first 40, 2 for 120; 3 for more than 200, 1 more for every 1008. Camels5 in number
    1. up to 5-24, 1 sheep or goat for each 5 camels;
    2. 25-35, one 1-year old she camel;
    3. 36-45, one 2-year old she camel;
    4. 46-60, one 3-year old she camel;
    5. 61-75, one 4-year old she camel;
    6. 76-90, two 2-year old she camel;
    7. 91-120, two 3-year old she camel;
    8. 121 or more, one 2-year old she camel for additional 40 or one 3-year old she camel for additional 50. They also give food and rare items to the ones in need

Answer 4

All Muslims who have cash or kind in excess of a specified amount of Gold, Silver, trading goods etc which they have possessed for a year have to pay a 2.5 percent of the value of their savings to poor who cannot be immediate neighbours.

One million dollars in bank for one year are liable for Zakat. But a house in which a person is living which is worth Ten million dollars is not liable for Zakat. Goods for sale worth a nominal amount are liable to Zakat but a personal jet is free of Zakat.

Zakat is paid when the belongings have been in the possession for a complete whole year. And it cannot be given as a remuneration for services nor to members of nuclear family however relatives have the first priority in getting Zakat from their wealthy relatives.

Zakat is a pilar of Islam and a person cannot be a Muslim without paying it every year. Its non-payment for even a single year is a great sin in Islam

Answer 5

Zakat (obligatory charity) is the Fourth Pillar of Islam. Each Muslim man and woman is bound to pay 2.5% his/her annual saving to the poor and the needy, provided he/she possesses about 80 grams gold, or 5300 grams silver. (for exact details refer the Books of Ahadith Chater Zakath)

Answer 6

Obligatory payment done by Islamic law to use for religios purpose

Answer 7

"Zakat" also called "Zakah" is the Muslim's (Arabic) word for charity. Where those who have atleast nisaab amount wealth give their 2.5% of wealth to poor and needy Muslims. And it is must.