ما الزكاة؟

Zakat is an obligatory charity owed by a Muslim who is able to pay it, under specific conditions. It is one of the pillars of Islam, and the Qur'an mentions it alongside prayer.

Zakat is obligatory charity. It is one of the five pillars of Islam ¹, and the Qur'an mentions it alongside prayer in many places. Zakat is given to those entitled to it, according to the categories the Qur'an sets out in the verse on charities, among them "those whose hearts are to be reconciled". The entry Zakat explains the conditions of obligation and the categories of recipients. Sadaqa differs from zakat: zakat is obligatory when its conditions are met, while sadaqa in Islam is broader than money, as the entry Sadaqa explains.

Details and jurisprudential disagreements are added in the related entries.