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Zakat is a compulsory gift of wealth, given once a year to those entitled to it, and it is one of the pillars of Islam.

Zakat is a compulsory gift. Each year a Muslim gives a part of his wealth to those who are entitled to it, such as the poor and those in need. It is one of the pillars of Islam, and the Qur'an mentions it together with prayer.

Storytellers (10–12) read the Explorers text, then cross to the Scholars text.

The obligatory alms, one of the five pillars of Islam. The Qur'an pairs it with prayer and names its recipients in the verse on alms: the poor, the needy, those who collect it, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled. The hadith of Jibril calls it the 'obligatory' alms to set it apart from voluntary charity. The jurists differ on which property is liable, on the amounts and on the times of payment, so this entry gives the basis of the duty and its recipients, and leaves the details to the entry on zakat in law. The museum gives what the text says and does not set a ruling that binds any one person.

Summary

Zakat — from growth, blessing and increase — names both the due that must be paid on specified wealth in a specified way, with hawla and nisab conditions, and the portion paid out itself; it is called thus because it purifies and fructifies wealth. ¹

Beside sadaqa and 'atiyya

Sadaqa covers what is given seeking God's face — obligatory and voluntary — and is sometimes confined to the obligatory, as in "there is no sadaqa on less than five dhawd of camels"; 'atiyya is broader still, any gift whether or not God's face is intended. ¹ ²

Its obligatory status

Zakat is an obligation of Islam and a pillar of the religion, established by Book, Sunna and consensus: in the Book, "establish prayer and give zakat" and the warning to hoarders; in the Sunna, "Islam is built on five", and the Prophet ﷺ's instruction to Mu'adh for Yemen that God had imposed a sadaqa on their wealth "taken from their rich and returned to their poor". ²

Fighting those who withhold it

Muslims in every age agreed on its obligation in general, and the Companions agreed to fight its withholders — al-Bukhari relates that Abu Bakr fought them when they withheld it after the Prophet's death. ³

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Zakat (obligatory alms)

At a glance

Summary

Beside sadaqa and 'atiyya

Its obligatory status

Fighting those who withhold it

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Muwatta, Book of Zakat