Allah has ordained every Muslim who possesses a certain amount of property to pay annually the Zakat (the obligatory charity) to the poor or to other categories mentioned in the Quran.

The minimum amount of gold liable to the payment of Zakat is 20 miskals of gold (a weight equal of 4.68 grams) and the minimum amount of silver is 200 Dirhams (a weight that is equal to 3.12 grams) or an equivalent sum of current money to this amount. There is also a minimum amount for good of commerce liable for the payment of Zakat. As for cereals and grains, its minimum amount is 300 Saa (a cubic measure used by Arabs). The minimum amount for real estates prepared for sale should be estimated in accordance with its value. But if the real estate is prepared for lease the estimation should be in accordance with its vent. The annual amount of Zakah due on camels, cows and sheep is explained in books dealing with this subject. 

The Quran: “And they have been commended no more than this; to worship Allah offering him sincere devotion. Being true (in Faith) to establish regular prayers and to give Zakat; and that is the religion right and straight” (98:5). In fact the Zakat has a wonderful social role. It soothes the poor’s feedings, satisfies their needs, and strengthens the bonds of mutual love between the poor and the rich.

Zakat is not the only means that Islam has used to maintain social solidarity and co-operation among Muslims, but Islam imposes also on the rich to support the poor at times of famines. Islam prohibits the Muslim from being stead with food while his neighbour is hungry. Islam enjoined also Zakah-Al-Fitr (Fitr Fast-Due) on all Muslims and has made it a duty on everyone of them to distribute a Saa of elementary substances, for themselves and a similar Saa for each one of those who need support including servants. The whole amount should be distributed among the poor, before the prayer of feast day.

Islam also imposed expiatory gifts on the Muslim who commits perjury (that is to feed ten poor people or clothe them or to fast three days, if they are unable to feed or clothe them or to fast: Allah promised to give the best rewards for those who expend their money for this sake. Their rewards will not only be multiplied to ten gold, but to 700 goals or even to a boundless number.

Zakat, the third pillar of Islam prepares us to fulfil the duties, which we owe to our fellow human beings, and the duty we have to care for them. Allah has created everything; All our riches, all our wealth, in fact everything we possess belongs to Him. Everything we possess has been given to us by Allah as a trust. Allah is the owner and that we are not the owners, but the trustees. As true servants of Allah, we should use all that we have in the way Allah had told us to use. We should use our belongings and spend our money in ways which will please Allah.

This means giving things to people who need them, and not being greedy or selfish.
Allah has permitted us to fulfil our own reasonable needs from the wealth he has given to us as a trust. However, he wants us to share our wealth, which in fact is his with his less fortunate people who are in need of it. We must remember that not everyone in this world has enough wealth to fulfil their reasonable needs. Many people are poor. Some of them are hungry and may remain so. Others are on the brink of hunger. There are also people who may not be able to obtain proper shelter or education or medical care for their health.

There are unhappy and unfortunate children who are orphans with no parents to care for them. But this is not all for poverty and hunger and by no means the only ills in this world. For example, there are the blind, the deaf, the physically or the mentally disabled. These unfortunates are always in need of our help both spiritually and materially. All these poor and less fortunate people have a right to their share of the wealth Allah has given to us to use as a trust.

All men and women belong to one family - the family of Adam and Eve. They all have a claim on each other. Islam teaches as to fulfil the needs of every human beings whether black or white, race or country. It also teaches us to fulfil the needs of non-Muslims. All Muslims are brothers and sisters to each other. They are like limbs and parts of one body; love each other; share their joys and sorrows; share their wealth with those who are in need; and they all have a claim upon each others wealth.

We must never love money or possessions more than we love Allah and His Creatures. We must recognise that others in need have rights upon our wealth. Only when we realise all this, can we put our whole life in ‘Ibadah’ Every Muslim who remains in possession of wealth above a certain minimum limit for one whole year must give a part of his wealth in that year for the benefit of the needy and other good causes. Through Zakat, Muslims transfer some of their wealth from the rich or more fortunate to the poor. So the wealth remains in circulation. Just like the blood in our bodies, which circulates or moves round to all parts of the body. Zakat is not paid as a charity or as a show of mercy and kindness. If it were, this would make the givers of Zakat superior to those who receive it. This is not right, for Islam establishes a just society in which all are equal. No! Zakat is a duty. By means of Zakat we return to others the wealth that is rightly due to them.

The Islam state is responsible for collecting Zakat and making it available to the poor and needy. But Zakat still has to be paid. In such a state, it can be paid privately from one individual to others. Zakat is compulsory but only for those who have wealth above a certain limit. It is not paid by people whose wealth if any falls below this limit. Zakat has to be paid on all forms of wealth - on money, gold and silver, jewellery, business goods and materials, on industrial plants, on livestock and agricultural produce.

Zakat is paid only once a year. It is calculated at the rate of two and half percent or one-fortieth part of a Muslim’s total wealth. That means per every D100 we have in saving, we must give D2.5 in Zakat. There are different rules for livestock and agricultural produce. Salat the prayer we offer reminds us of Allah and brings us closer to Him; Zakat reminds us of duties Allah wants us to fulfil towards our fellow men and women. Zakat, too, brings us closer to Allah.

Zakat is the money used for the well-being and the satisfactory health and prosperity for both those who give it and those who receive it. These, then, are the principles behind the giving of Zakat. Islam teaches that all human beings belong to lone family; that all Muslims are brothers and sisters and the need for there to be social justice. No one should suffer injustice. Islam wants all human beings to live dignified and honourable lives. Zakat is therefore an act of worship and also a practical form of Ibadah. The word Zakat means “to clean”. It cleans or purifies our wealth, as much as it cleans and purifies our hearts. It also teaches us that wealth must be earned through clean and lawful means. Zakat also cleans our soul, our attitudes and our dealings. It prevents us from being greedy and selfish, like misers.

Zakat is enither a charity not a tax. Charity is not compulsory. It is paid voluntarily. Charity may be given at any time in addition to Zakat. It is known as sadaqah. Zakat is ‘Ibadah” so it is completely different from a tax. Money obtained through Zakat is used for the welfare of the needy. It protects society and the community from tension, and disorder. Thus, Zakat cleans and purifies human society.

Zakat is indeed a great blessing for us all. It is a blessing for those who give, for those who receive, and for society as a whole. Zakat establishes a society in which resources are shared and Muslims care for one another. It is therefore a great sin not to pay Zakat and so try to avoid sharing one’s wealth with the needy. Islam teaches that it is very bad to let people suffer from hunger and disease, and not help them. Zakat teaches us to give what we have in order to eliminate or wipe out misery and hunger from human society.