What is Zakat? A scholar of Islam explains
- Written by: Iqbal Akhtar, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Florida International University
Muslims see wealth as a gift[1] and a divine dispensation. The Quran urges individuals to share their wealth and income with those of lesser means. Almsgiving is one of the five pillars of Islam[2] – a fundamental practice within the faith.
One key way this happens is through Zakat[3], the mandatory yearly donation of 2.5% of one’s net wealth. Islam requires all adults to give what they have in abundance to others.
In addition, Muslims may help others through other charitable practices[4] such as sadaqa[5], which is mentioned in the Quran. Sadaqa is any additional giving that can serve this purpose of helping others. Shiite Muslims are expected to donate one-fifth of one’s annual earnings, known as khums[6], to their spiritual head, the Imam, for charitable purposes.
Why Zakat matters
American Muslims constitute about 1% of the total population[7], and their average income is generally lower than non-Muslims. But because of Zakat and other practices, Muslims donate more to charity[8] than others.
These charitable gifts can be invested for the community’s long-term benefit. Most of the Muslim world’s major mosques are funded by centuries-old endowments, known as awqaf[9]. These endowments established education and social services for their communities long before the creation of modern nation-states.
An act of kindness
The ultimate earthly goal of Islam is the establishment of justice[10] for all. Charity, then, is about more than just giving money.
Giving one’s time to help[11] others – such as volunteering, caregiving or an act of kindness – can also be a form of charity.
The Quran describes charity as a “beautiful loan[12]” and likens making a donation “to a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains.”
Muslims believe that charity benefits the giver, receiver and the public. Above all, it honors the divine commandment[13] to help those in need.
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References
- ^ Muslims see wealth as a gift (www.sunypress.edu)
- ^ one of the five pillars of Islam (theconversation.com)
- ^ Zakat (books.google.com)
- ^ other charitable practices (doi.org)
- ^ sadaqa (registericpess.org)
- ^ khums (old.amu.ac.in)
- ^ about 1% of the total population (www.ispu.org)
- ^ donate more to charity (theconversation.com)
- ^ known as awqaf (ssrn.com)
- ^ establishment of justice (www.jstor.org)
- ^ Giving one’s time to help (doi.org)
- ^ beautiful loan (citeseerx.ist.psu.edu)
- ^ divine commandment (doi.org)
- ^ Sign up for The Conversation’s daily newsletter (theconversation.com)
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