Salaams, Can I have some information about Zakaat :- 1) what are the different ways of paying Zakaat ? 2) what`s the exact calculation of paying annual Zakaat ? There is lots of confusion in paying Zakaat, Please clarify, does the house which is owned, Wife`s/Daughter`s Jewelry which they are using, one should pay Zakaat on it ? Some say YES and some say NO please clarify with references.

Zakat Issues: How to calculate zakaat?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol,  no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

What are the different ways of paying Zakaat ?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60: Zakat Collections are for the needy, and the indigent, and for those who are employed to collect them, and for those whose hearts are to be won over, and for the ransoming of slaves, and for helping the debtors, and the way of Allah, and for the hospitality of the way-farers.

The above are the different ways of paying the zakaah or obligatory charity as commanded by Allah:

  1. The needy
  2. The indigent or poor
  3. The people who are employed to collect zakaah. (This command is for the government agencies who would collect zakah in an Islamic State that they could pay the salaries of the people who are employed to collect the zakah for the citizens of this state.)
  4. Those whose hearts are to be won over.   (For daawah or propagation of Islam, etc.)
  5. For the ransoming of slaves
  6. For helping the debtors
  7. For the hospitality of people who are traveling and are facing financial difficulty for some reason.
  8. And,  the Way of Allah.   (anything one spends to gain the pleasure of Allah will be considered in ‘The Way of Allah’)

Thus zakah dues may be paid to any of the above criteria.   The only place one cannot spend zakaah money is to support his own family and people under his/her responsibility and to build a mosque,  which should be done with one’s own pure wealth.

What`s the exact calculation of paying annual Zakaat ?

The standard rate is 2.5% of the excess wealth or net-worth of the person,  after it has been in  possession for one calendar year.   

The rate of zakat on agriculture is 10% of the produce if naturally irrigated (rain, etc.)  and 5% if irrigated by other means (wells, tubes, etc.)

There is lots of confusion in paying Zakaat.

The payment of zakaah dues are one of the obligatory pillars of Islam,  and the command of its payment and to those it can be paid is absolutely clear.   There should be absolutely no confusion about the payment of zakaah dues.    The rule of thumb to use and keep it simple,  is to pay 2.5% of the net worth of the person as zakaah.

 

The house which is owned

The house which is owned and lived in by the person and his family is not liable for zakah.   But if the person owns several houses,  he has to pay zakah on all the houses,  except the one house which the person actually uses to live in.

 

Wife`s/Daughter`s Jewelry which they are using

If the person is wealthy and his wife/daughter has a lot of jewelry,  then one should pay the zakah on the jewelry.   But if a person is poor,  and his wife/daughter has only one simple set of jewelry which they regularly and normally use,  then it is permissible for them not to pay zakah on it.

My dear brother,  if Allah has blessed someone with His Bounty,  then he should not sit and count every penny and pay the minimum as zakaah dues;  but should rather be generous and try and share his wealth with the poor and the needy of the society.     Everything one spends in the Way of Allah will be multiplied and returned manifold by the Lord of the Worlds to the person in the Hereafter.   If the person is generous with his affairs with Allah,  one should realize that Allah is the Most Generous of all those who show generosity!

And if one is poor and does not have sufficient even for his own needs,  there is no zakah due from him.

This system of obligatory charity is commanded by Allah Subhanah as a Mercy and Blessing,  not as a punishment to the believers.   In this way,  the people who are blessed with the Bounty of Allah are exhorted to share their wealth with the poor and needy,  and thus have been given a means of earning a huge reward from Allah Subhanah in the Hereafter.    When one gives away what one loves only to earn the Pleasure of Allah,  it instills a sense of humility,  obedience,  responsibility,  and piety,  in the believer.   When one gives away part of his beloved wealth in the Way of Allah,  he declares with his actions that in truth,  whatever he has been blessed with actually belongs to Allah Subhanah,  Who has given him this wealth only as a trust to see what does one do with it.   

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 261-262: The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it grows seven ears and each ear has a hundred grains.  Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases; and Allah cares for all and He knows all things.  Those who spend their substance in the cause of Allah,  and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury,  for them their reward is with their Lord; on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 92 Surah Layl verses 19-21:And away from it (Hell Fire) shall be kept the most pious one,  who gives away his wealth in order to purify himself.   He has received no favor from anyone,  for which he may have to return a reward.   He seeks only the good-will of his Lord,  The Exalted.   And He will certainly be well-pleased (with him).

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 215: They ask you (O Prophet)  what they should spend (in charity).  Say: Whatever you spend that is good,  is for parents, and kindred, and orphans, and for the needy, and for wayfarers.  And whatever good you do,  Allah knows it well.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 
Privacy  |  About Wister

Copyright © 2024 Wister All rights reserved