Zakat

5 items across 3 content types

Questions (1)

beginner

Islamic Practices

What is Zakat in Islam — who must pay it, how much, and why?

Zakat (Arabic: زكاة — purification, growth) is the obligatory annual wealth tax that is the Third Pillar of Islam. Every Muslim who possesses wealth above the *nisab* (minimum threshold, approximately the value of 85 grams of gold) must give 2.5% of that wealth to the eight designated categories of recipients. Zakat is not charity — it is a precisely defined divine obligation. It purifies the wealth that remains, strengthens social solidarity, and reduces inequality. It is one of the most sophisticated built-in wealth redistribution systems in any religious tradition.

Zakat Pillars of Islam Islamic Practices

Articles (1)

Article

Worship & Practice

Fasting, Taraweeh & Zakat

Shaykh Salih Al Uthaymeen

A comprehensive guide to the rulings of fasting in Ramadan, the night prayer (Taraweeh), and Zakaat — covering obligations, nullifiers, concessions, and the recipients of charity.

Hadith (3)

Hadith

Sahih al-Bukhari 8

Sahih

بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَالْحَجِّ وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ

Buniya al-Islamu 'ala khamsin: shahadati an la ilaha illallah wa anna Muhammadan Rasulullah, wa iqamis-salah, wa ita'iz-zakah, wal-hajj, wa sawmi Ramadan

The Prophet said: 'Islam is built upon five pillars: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger, establishing prayer, giving Zakaat, performing Hajj, and fasting in Ramadan.'

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

This hadith outlines the Five Pillars of Islam — the fundamental acts of worship that form the foundation of a Muslim's life. The Shahada (testimony of faith) comes first as the declaration of monotheism, followed by the four practical pillars of prayer, charity, pilgrimage, and fasting.

Hadith

Sahih al-Bukhari 3461

Sahih

كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُدَايِنُ النَّاسَ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ لِفَتَاهُ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مُعْسِرًا فَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَتَجَاوَزَ عَنَّا فَلَقِيَ اللَّهَ فَتَجَاوَزَ عَنْهُ

Kana rajulun yudayinu an-nasa fa kana yaqulu li fatahu: idha atayta mu'siran fa tajawaz 'anhu, la'alla Allaha an yatajawaza 'anna. Fa laqiya Allaha fa tajawaza 'anhu

The Prophet said: 'There was a merchant who used to lend to people, and he would say to his servant: If you find someone in hardship, forgive his debt — perhaps Allah will forgive us. When he met Allah, Allah forgave him.'

Narrated by Abu Hurairah

This hadith illustrates the Islamic principle that mercy begets mercy. A man's habitual generosity toward debtors in difficulty earned him divine forgiveness. It encourages financial compassion and demonstrates that economic ethics in Islam are tied directly to spiritual reward.

Hadith

Sahih al-Bukhari 1410

Sahih

مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِعَدْلِ تَمْرَةٍ مِنْ كَسْبٍ طَيِّبٍ ـ وَلاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ الطَّيِّبَ ـ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَتَقَبَّلُهَا بِيَمِينِهِ ثُمَّ يُرَبِّيهَا لِصَاحِبِهَا كَمَا يُرَبِّي أَحَدُكُمْ فَلُوَّهُ حَتَّى تَكُونَ مِثْلَ الْجَبَلِ

Man tasaddaqa bi 'adli tamratin min kasbin tayyibin — wa la yaqbalu Allahu illa at-tayyib — fa inna Allaha yataqabbaluha biyaminihi thumma yurabbiba lisahibiha kama yurabbi ahadukum fuluwwahu hatta takuna mithla al-jabal

The Prophet said: 'If one gives in charity what equals one date-fruit from honestly earned money — and Allah accepts only the honestly earned money — Allah takes it in His right hand and then enlarges its reward for that person who has given it, as anyone of you brings up his baby horse, so much so that it becomes as big as a mountain.'

Narrated by Abu Hurairah

This hadith transforms the understanding of charity with three powerful ideas. First, the amount does not matter — even a single date-fruit is accepted. Second, the source matters enormously — only honestly earned wealth is accepted ('Allah accepts only the honestly earned'). Third, God personally nurtures each charitable act, growing it from something tiny to something mountainous. The image of God 'bringing up' a donation like a foal growing into a great horse anthropomorphizes divine generosity in a way that makes charity deeply personal and intimate.