Where to spend Zakat money: The holy month of Ramadan is going on and in this month Muslims fast for 29-30 days. This month has been given a very special importance in Islam, because in this holy month the verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad. For this reason the importance of Ramadan increases even more. In the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims keep fast, worship Allah as much as possible, offer Taraweeh prayers and recite the Quran. Apart from all these, there is one more thing which Muslims pay in this month and that is Zakat. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Just as Roza, Namaz and Hajj are a duty on Muslims, in the same way Zakat has also been declared a duty on every Muslim. No Muslim can leave it under any circumstances. There are some important conditions and rules for paying Zakat, keeping them in mind, Zakat is paid. There are many questions in the minds of Muslims regarding Zakat. Often people pay Zakat, but do not know where to spend it. In this article, we will learn from Islamic scholar Mufti Salauddin Qasmi some important questions related to Zakat and their answers.
What is Zakat?
Zakat in Urdu means purifying, cleansing, progress. In Islam, Zakat is the required charity that every Sahib-e-Nasab Muslim has to give two and a half percent (2.5%) of his annual savings to the needy. Now you must be wondering who is Sahib-e-Nisab. So, Sahib-e-Nisab is a Muslim who has at least seven and a half (7.5) tola of gold or fifty two and a half (52.5) tola of silver (or equivalent cash/tradable goods) in addition to his basic needs, free from debt and has completed one year. It is farz (obligatory) to pay Zakat on such a person.
When did Zakat become obligatory?
Zakat became obligatory in Medina after Hijrat in 2 Hijri (624 AD). The order of Zakat came about 18 months after the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in Medina in the month of Rajab in 2 Hijri and it was made mandatory some time before the fasting of Ramadan. This Sahib-e-Nisab is a duty on Muslims once a year.
How much Zakat should be paid?
In Islam, it is obligatory to give 2.5% (two and a half percent) of the eligible property (which is owned by you for one year and exceeds Nisab) as Zakat, which is 40th part of the total property. This is required for adults who own at least 87.48 grams of gold or equivalent to 612.36 grams of silver in one Islamic year.
Who should pay Zakat?
- Zakat can be given only to needy Muslims, not to non-Muslims (they can be given Sadaqah or charity).
- Zakat cannot be given to immediate relatives such as parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren or spouses.
- If brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, or other relatives are truly needy (poor), then Zakat can be given to them.
- People from the Sayyid family, who belong to the Hashemite lineage (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad), are not entitled to collect zakat.
When is Zakat obligatory?
Zakat is obligatory when a Muslim person has Nisab (minimum limit, money equal to approximately 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver) and that money remains with him for one complete Islamic year (Hajr). That Muslim should be an adult and intelligent and there should not be any outstanding loan on that money. This is a duty only on rich Muslims. It is paid annually, usually in the month of Ramadan.
Conditions for Zakat
- Islam:- The person must be a Muslim.
- independence:- He should not be a slave (he should be free)
- Adult :- Must be an adult, not a duty on minors.
- Wisdom:- One should be sane (mentally healthy), there is no duty to be mentally ill.
- Sahib-e-Nisab:- He should have money equal to Nisab (minimum limit).
- Attendance (whole year):- His money should remain above the Nisab limit for one year.
When should Zakat be paid?
When your wealth exceeds the Nisab limit for an entire Islamic year, you must pay Zakat at the end of that year. Although Zakat can be paid in any month, but giving Zakat in the month of Ramadan is considered a better and rewarding act. There are two types of Zakat which are mentioned below-
- Zakat-ul-Maal: This is an obligation on the money with the conditions mentioned above.
- Zakat-ul-Fitr (Fitrana): This is a duty on every Muslim (child, old, rich, poor, everyone) at the end of Ramzan before Eid, whether they have money or not.
Where should Zakat money not be spent?
- Construction work:- Zakat money cannot be used to build a mosque, madrassa, hospital or library.
- Public works:- Zakat money is not spent on roads, bridges, or any public welfare work.
- Rich people:- It is not permissible to give Zakat to those who are wealthy (Sahibe Nisab).
- Hajj-Umrah:- Zakat money cannot be used for Hajj or Umrah.
- Iftar and Sehri:- It is not permissible to spend Zakat money on public Iftar parties or Sehri.
- Non-Muslim:- Zakat money can be given only to poor Muslims.
- Personal property:- Zakat money cannot be spent on creating property for yourself or your relatives.
- Sinful deeds:- Do not give this money to people who use it for illegal or sinful activities.
Who is entitled to Zakat?
In the most sacred book of Islam, there are 8 people mentioned who are entitled to Zakat. It is mentioned in the Quran (Surah At-Tawbah 9:60).
- The Poor (Al-Fuqara): People who have little or no property, i.e. the extremely poor.
- The needy (Al-Masakin): Those people who do not even have money to meet their basic needs.
- The Debtor (Al-Gharimin): People who are in debt and are not able to repay it.
- The Traveler (Ibn Us Sabil): Those who are stuck while traveling and do not have money to return home.
- New Muslims (Mu’allafah Quloobuhum): Those who have recently converted to Islam and need help.
- Slave (Ar Riqab): Those who get freedom from slavery or escape from bonded labour.
- In the way of Allah (Fi Sabilillah): Those who are engaged in social welfare or religious work.
- Amil: People who are engaged in the work of collecting and distributing Zakat.
Important rules and regulations of Zakat
- It is better to distribute Zakat among the poor of the same city where you live.
- Zakat money is the right of the poor and do not use it for yourself.
- Can give to poor relatives (like brother, sister, nephew, niece, uncle) if they are entitled.
- Husband and wife cannot pay Zakat to each other.
- You should have complete possession, i.e. ownership, of the property and not someone else.
- There should be a possibility of increase in assets (like business or animals).