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1. Shari’ah has made zakaat compulsory upon the person who possesses the amount of nisaab. The amount of nisaab will be calculated from all zakaatable wealth. One will not include the basic necessities of life in his zakaat calculation. The basic necessities of life are the house, car, furniture, items in use, etc. [1]
2. It is not permissible for one to give zakaat to his ascendants (e.g. parents, grandparents, etc) and descendants (e.g. children, grandchildren, etc). [2]
3. Zakaat has to be given to a recipient of zakaat. A recipient of zakaat is a poor Muslim who does not possess the nisaab of zakaat. [3] Hence, zakaat cannot be given to a musjid or madrasah, or to pay for the burial of a deceased, etc., as these are not recipients of zakaat. [4]
Tamleek
Tamleek is a fundamental requirement in the discharging of zakaat. Tamleek refers to transferring ownership of the wealth to the recipient of zakaat. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the zakaat will not be discharged.
Hence, zakaat cannot be used to pay for the building of a musjid, or for the lights and water of the musjid, or for the burial of a person, as in all these cases, the aspect of tamleek (giving ownership of the wealth to a poor person) is not found. [1]
After possessing the nisaab amount, if a person receives any additional wealth during the course of the year, then on the completion of the zakaat year, this additional amount will be included in his zakaatable assets, on condition that the additional wealth remained with him until his zakaat date. Hence, zakaat will be calculated and discharged on the entire amount that he possesses at the time of his zakaat date.
E.g. Zaid possessed R100 000. Zaid’s zakaat year ends on the 1st of Ramadhaan. A few days before the 1st of Ramadhaan, he received a lump sum of R1 000 000 in inheritance. Zaid will have to pay zakaat on the R100 000 as well as the R1 000 000.
Similarly, if his wealth decreased before his zakaat date, he will not have to pay zakaat on the amount that decreased. Rather, he will only pay zakaat on the amount which he possessed on his zakaat date.
E.g. Zaid possessed R100 000. Zaid’s zakaat year ends on the 1st of Ramadhaan. A few days before the 1st of Ramadhaan, he spent R50 000. Zaid will not have to pay zakaat on the R50 000 that he spent. Rather, he will only have to pay zakaat on the remaining R50 000.
When a person acquires wealth which equals the nisaab and the wealth remains with him for an entire lunar year from the first day he acquired the wealth, then zakaat becomes compulsory on that wealth. [1]
E.g. Zaid acquired R3 000 (which is the nisaab amount) on the first day of the lunar year (1st of Muharram 1434). This wealth remained with him for an entire lunar year. On the 1st of Muharram 1435, zakaat will be compulsory upon the wealth.
The following types of wealth are regarded as zakaatable wealth (wealth upon which zakaat is payable):
1. Cash (including cash in the bank) [1]
2. The market value of the merchandise contained in the share of the company [2]
3. The market rate of the balance of stock in trade (including raw materials) [See 2]
4. Receivable amounts i.e. debts owed to a person, monies loaned to people, etc. [3]
5. Foreign currencies [See 1]
6. Gold and silver [4]
7. Face value of the financial papers such as bonds loaned to the government, etc. [See 3]
Note: It should be borne in mind that bonds loaned to the government is not permissible as it is an interest-bearing loan. However, if one had got involved in it, then when the loan is paid back by the government, it will only be permissible for one to retrieve the original amount of the loan given. The interest amount paid out by the government will be impermissible. It will have to be given in sadaqah without the intention of receiving any reward. Similarly, it should be known that it is impermissible for a believer to deal in any form of interest (usury) whether it be receiving or giving an interest-bearing loan.
Zakaat is fardh upon a person who meets the following criteria:
1. He is a Muslim
2. He is an adult (baaligh)
3. He is a sane person
4. He is a free person (not a slave)
5. He possesses zakaatable wealth which is equal to or exceeds the nisaab amount, and he possesses this wealth for an entire lunar year. [1]
Sunnats and Aadaab of Discharging Zakaat – Part Three
Written by user27. Ensure that you do not give less than the amount that is obligatory upon you. Zakaat must be discharged after correctly calculating the amount that is due. Do not merely estimate the amount and discharge zakaat, as it is possible that you may estimate a lesser amount and fail to discharge your zakaat correctly.
8. Refer to the Ulama to learn the correct method of calculating zakaat. [1]
[1] وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُوحِيْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْئَلُوْا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ (سورة النحل: 43)
4. Regard the recipient of the zakaat as doing you a favour, as he is the means of you fulfilling your fardh obligation. Through him accepting your zakaat, he is cleansing your wealth from impurity. [1]
5. Give the zakaat to the recipient with respect and dignity. You should not cause any pain to the recipient of zakaat e.g. by embarassing him or reminding him of your favour upon him. [2]
6. Do not discharge zakaat for show nor publicize the amount of zakaat you have discharged. Carrying out good deeds for show and ostentation destroys the rewards of the good deeds. [2]
1. When discharging zakaat, ensure that you discharge the zakaat from pure, halaal earnings. It is reported in the Hadith that Allah Ta‘ala does not accept charity given from impure wealth (i.e. haraam or doubtful wealth). [1]
2. Discharge zakaat with complete sincerity and with the intention of fulfilling the command of Allah Ta‘ala and earning His pleasure. [2]
3. Zakaat must be given happily and wholeheartedly. Do not regard zakaat to be a tax or a burden. [3]
Serious Consequences for Neglecting the Obligation of Zakaat
Written by user2Not Receving Reward for One’s Salaah
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentioned, “We have been commanded to establish salaah and discharge zakaat, and the one who does not discharge his zakaat, there is no salaah for him.” [1]
The Ulama explain this Hadith to mean that though the obligation of salaah will be fulfilled, the person will not receive any reward for his salaah on account of him not discharging his zakaat. From this Hadith, it is clear that when a person neglects one branch of Deen, a detrimental effect is witnessed in all the other branches of Deen. Hence, just as neglecting zakaat impacts on salaah, similarly neglecting salaah will impact on zakaat and all the other branches of Deen. [2]
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Zakaat is one of the five main pillars of Islam. [1] Zakaat became fardh (compulsory) in the second year after hijrah, prior to the fast of Ramadhaan becoming fardh. [2]
There are many verses of the Quraan Majeed as well as Ahaadith of Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) which explain the great rewards that are promised for discharging zakaat.
Hazrat Hasan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Protect your wealth by discharging zakaat, treat your sick by giving sadaqah and combat the waves of calamities by resorting to dua and humility.” [3]
Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who discharges his zakaat, his wealth is cleansed from impurity.” [4]
Sadaqatul fitr is compulsory upon all those who possess wealth that equals the nisaab. Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent a person to announce in the streets of Makkah Mukarramah, “Know well that sadaqatul fitr is compulsory upon every Muslim, male or female, free or slave, child or adult, as two mudd of wheat (i.e. half a saa’) or one saa’ from other types of food (e.g. wheat, wheat-flour, dates, etc).” (Sunan Tirmizi #674)
The occasions of Eidul Adha and Eidul Fitr are the days of celebration for the Muslims. On the occasion, of Eidul Fitr, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed the people of every religion (e.g. Jews, Christians, etc.) have their Eid (i.e. special days of celebration), and this day (i.e. Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha) is our Eid.” [1]
Sitting for I’tikaaf in the musjid during the last ten days of Ramadhaan is an ibaadah which is sunnah mu’akkadah alal-kifaayah. (Durrul Mukhtaar 2/442)
Sunnah mu’akkadah alal-kifaayah refers to a sunnah whose obligation is placed upon the entire locality collectively. If one or a few individuals of the locality fulfil it, the entire locality will be absolved of the obligation. However, if no one from the entire locality fulfils it then all the people of the locality will be sinful for neglecting it.