"Say We believe in God and what is revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and I`saac and Jacob and the Tribes, and what was entrusted to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to Him we have surrendered." (Quran 3: 84)

Zakat in the Qur'aan and Sunnah

Zakat is the yearly compulsory charity prescribed upon those Muslims who have wealth.

On the said wealth, two and a half percent of charity has to be compulsorily given in charity. One may give more than that. Allah tells in Quran : "Practice regular charity".
(Al-Qur'an, 2:43)

"Be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity. And whatever good you send forth, for your souls before you, you shall find it with Allah."
(Al-Qur'an, 2:110)

"But it is righteousness.. to spend of your substance out love for him (Allah) for your kin, for orphans for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask and for the ransom of slaves."
(Al-Qur'an, 2:43)

"For those who give in charity, men and women, and a loan to Allah a beautiful loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit) and they shall have, (besides) a liberal reward."
(Al-Qur'an, 57:18)

"And spend something (in charity) out of the substance which we have bestowed upon you, before Death should come to any of you and he should say : O my lord! Why did you not give me respite for a little while? I should have given (largely in charity)".
(Al-Qur'an, 63:10)

Prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h.) said, 

"Allah has made obligatory for them (Muslims) in their wealth, sadaqa (charity) to be taken from their rich and handed over to the poor."
(Al-Bukhari Chapter of Zakat)

'Zakat' means 'to increase and to become pure.' Because the payment of Zakat leads to an increase in wealth and considered to be a reason for its cleansing, this obligation has been named "Zakat", by the Shariah (law). "Zakat" was declared "obligatory" in the 2nd year after the Prophet (S.A.W.) migrated to Medina.

He who acquires a property is not a liable for Zakat on it till a year passes.

Zakat-ul-Fitr or Sadaqatul-Fitr : Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W.) (peace be upon him) prescribed Zakat-ul-Fitr payable by all Muslims including slaves (and servants), about two and half kilo of dried dates, or grains and commanded that this should be paid before the people went out to pray the prayer of Eid-ul-Fitr i.e. Ramadhan IDD.
(Bulug-al-Maram Hadith : 505)

[ Up ]

* pbuh - Peace be upon him; It is a Muslim practise to convey prayers of peace whenever the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and other prophets is taken.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)'s Sermon About Ramadan