1. Who is eligible to be a recipient of zakat?
In Holy Qur’an, Allah said: "As-sadaqaat (here means zakat) are only for the fuqara (poor), and al-masaakin (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds) and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (toward Islam), and (to free) captives, and for those in debt, and for Allah's cause (i.e. for those fighting in a holy battle) and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. " (Taubah; 9/60)
It is possible to explain the eight categories of people mentioned in the verse as:
Every Muslim adult possessing the designated minimal amount of wealth (called nisab) for a full cycle of a lunar year after meeting his/her basic needs and paying off any debt must, as a matter of worship, satisfy the duty of the zakat. The basic needs include: a house, household furniture, means of transportation/a car, clothing, tools, equipment, books etc. necessary to make his/her livelihood, food expenses for one year. Should a person’s extra income or possessions except for his/her debts, if there is any, reaches the nisab amount and remains that way for one full year, that person must pay zakat.
Nisab amount: Zakat is due on certain types of wealth. There is a different nisab rate for every type. Some of the zakat-due types of wealth, their nisab rates and zakat calculated accordingly are as follows:
Gold: If the amount of gold possessed exceeds 85 grams, one-fortieth of such wealth must be given away as zakat.
Silver: If the amount of silver exceeds 595 grams, again one-fortieth of it must be given as zakat.
Nisab on cash funds is also calculated as gold and/or silver. Since silver has lost its value significantly in today’s market, it would be reasonable to calculate them based on gold-value
3. Is paying one’s taxes regarded as zakat?
Zakat must not be confused with taxes. It is unacceptable for a person regarded as wealthy according to religious terms to avoid paying zakat by thinking “I am paying my taxes”. There are essential differences between zakat and taxes in terms of legal source, amount, purpose and means of utilization.
4. If a person possesses the nisab amount of money or wealth, but his/her basic needs have not been met yet, does s/he need to pay zakat?
When the cost of basic needs are deducted from the money or wealth possessed, if the remaining wealth does not reach the nisab amount, then that person does not need to pay zakat.
5. Is money saved for debt payment subjected to zakat?
There is no zakat due for the savings dedicated to the payment of an existing debt. A person who has zakat payments due from previous years is also regarded as a debtor. If s/he has less than nisab amount of money/wealth left after paying the zakat due for previous years, then s/he is not liable for zakat payment in current year.
6. Should a person who leases his/her own house to someone else and rents another place for himself/herself pay zakat for the house s/he owns?
If the rental income of his/her own house exceeds the rent s/he pays and the excess amount of income reaches the nisab amount and remains so for one lunar year, then yes, s/he is liable for paying zakat on this.
7. Does a wife with no other income need to pay zakat for her jewelry?
Thus, if a woman or man has in her/his ownership gold or silver in the form of decorative items, household items or personal jewelry the value of which reaches the appointed Nisab amount on its own or together with other wealth possessed, then s/he will be required to pay Zakat.
8. Which one of the spouses is required to satisfy the duty of zakat (almsgiving) and qurban (sacrifice)?
If both spouses have personal incomes and their wealth exceeds the nisab amount, then each of them is required to satisfy the duty of zakat and qurban individually.
9. We are paying some of our zakat to our employees who are in need of financial aid, is this alright?
It is completely acceptable to pay zakat to one’s employees.
People who are not eligible for receiving zakat are: Those who possess more than the nisab amount of wealth after their basic needs are met (explained in article 2 above), non-Muslims (except for those who are included to the group of “sympathizers”), one’s parents, grandparents…etc. and his/her offspring, their children…etc., one’s own spouse and descendants of Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h).
People except for those stated above are eligible for receiving zakat. The most acceptable way to pay zakat is to give alms first to one’s siblings, then to their children, then uncles and aunts and their children on one’s father’s side, after that, aunts and uncles on one’s mother’s side and their children and then to the rest of one’s relatives. A person’s neighbors, colleagues and other acquaintances follow on the list of priority.
10. Can zakat be sent to poor people in far-away places via aid organizations?
When it comes to paying one’s zakat what matters is “tamlik” (transfer of ownership), that is, to transfer the wealth to one of the 8 categories of recipients listed in the Quran verse. However, in certain situations, a person may be unable to reach the beneficiaries who need the zakat the most. In such situations, it is possible and permissible to send one’s zakat to beneficiaries in far-away places through a system of agency (wakeel). Should one want to transfer his/her zakat to the poor and the needy in a far-away place, s/he submits his/her zakat to a person or institution by assigning that person or institution as an agent (wakeel). The agent transfers the alms to a poor and needy person in the designated place. Thus, the duty of zakat becomes satisfied by meeting the “tamlik” requirement.
11. We calculate out zakat in the beginning of each year and try to pay it in installments to appropriate people as we go throughout the year, is this method alright?
Yes, it is. Zakat can be paid at once or in installments to the poor who is in serious need of assistance, such as having to pay a debt.
12. What types of assets are zakatable?
Gold and silver, trading goods, buried wealth or treasures, oils and minerals, livestock, land produce are zakatable assets. In addition to these, in today’s world, equity and cash are also deemed as zakatable assets. The conditions that should be met are; the person should hold the complete ownership of these, wealth should be equal to or more than the nisab amount after funds needed for basic needs are deducted and should be held in person’s ownership for at least one lunar year.
13. How do we calculate zakat?
Zakat can simply be calculated like this:
A tradesman calculates his/her stock (of whatever he may be trading) at the end of each year, adds up the cash and assets he holds. After deducting his debts, if he has an equivalent of more than 85 grams of gold, then he pays 2,5% of that wealth as zakat.
Answer.) Zakat must be given to the poor and needy. Zakat cannot be used directly for constructing a madrassa or an orphanage.
You should give out your zakat personally to the poor and needy who are eligible to accept zakat. If you choose to give your zakat to an organization make sure that there are competent Ulama there who are well versed in the laws of Zakat. You should not give your zakat to an organization where there are no reliable Ulama and the organization is not well versed in the laws of zakat. If they did not discharge your zakat according to Shariah, your zakat obligation will not be fulfilled. And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/zakat_questionz.shtml
http://www.ihh.org.tr
In Holy Qur’an, Allah said: "As-sadaqaat (here means zakat) are only for the fuqara (poor), and al-masaakin (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds) and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (toward Islam), and (to free) captives, and for those in debt, and for Allah's cause (i.e. for those fighting in a holy battle) and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. " (Taubah; 9/60)
It is possible to explain the eight categories of people mentioned in the verse as:
- The poor (Faqir/Fuqara): Those without sufficient means of livelihood to meet their basic necessities. For instance, those who, although may have a job, a house and a car, but whose income is below the minimum requirement (nisab).
- The needy (Miskeen): Those without any means of livelihood and material possessions and dependent on others to meet their most basic needs such as food and shelter.
- Employees of the zakat, even if they are rich, they are allowed to take from the zakat money limited to an amount to take care of themselves and their family.
- Sympathizers are people whose hearts are expected to inclined to Islam or whose believe to Islam is expected to increase can be given gifts from the Zakat money.
- Slaves and captives: In the days that the system of slavery existed, this meant that a person who wants to free himself from the shackles of slavery should be given Zakat so that he may release his neck from bondage by giving money to his master.
- Debtor is person who is in debt and does not have financial capital or property exceeding the nisab amount. Such persons should hold priority status when giving Zakat money compared to the poor without any debts.
- Those who work for Allah’s cause, either to spread the truth or to defend their country for Allah’s sake but also in need for meeting their basic needs deserve zakat.
- Travelers are people who travels to another country or a foreign place for noble purposes such as pilgrimage or study and have difficulty in meeting their needs. They might have living means, but they can still receive zakat if they have trouble in accessing their means during travelling.
Every Muslim adult possessing the designated minimal amount of wealth (called nisab) for a full cycle of a lunar year after meeting his/her basic needs and paying off any debt must, as a matter of worship, satisfy the duty of the zakat. The basic needs include: a house, household furniture, means of transportation/a car, clothing, tools, equipment, books etc. necessary to make his/her livelihood, food expenses for one year. Should a person’s extra income or possessions except for his/her debts, if there is any, reaches the nisab amount and remains that way for one full year, that person must pay zakat.
Nisab amount: Zakat is due on certain types of wealth. There is a different nisab rate for every type. Some of the zakat-due types of wealth, their nisab rates and zakat calculated accordingly are as follows:
Gold: If the amount of gold possessed exceeds 85 grams, one-fortieth of such wealth must be given away as zakat.
Silver: If the amount of silver exceeds 595 grams, again one-fortieth of it must be given as zakat.
Nisab on cash funds is also calculated as gold and/or silver. Since silver has lost its value significantly in today’s market, it would be reasonable to calculate them based on gold-value
3. Is paying one’s taxes regarded as zakat?
Zakat must not be confused with taxes. It is unacceptable for a person regarded as wealthy according to religious terms to avoid paying zakat by thinking “I am paying my taxes”. There are essential differences between zakat and taxes in terms of legal source, amount, purpose and means of utilization.
4. If a person possesses the nisab amount of money or wealth, but his/her basic needs have not been met yet, does s/he need to pay zakat?
When the cost of basic needs are deducted from the money or wealth possessed, if the remaining wealth does not reach the nisab amount, then that person does not need to pay zakat.
5. Is money saved for debt payment subjected to zakat?
There is no zakat due for the savings dedicated to the payment of an existing debt. A person who has zakat payments due from previous years is also regarded as a debtor. If s/he has less than nisab amount of money/wealth left after paying the zakat due for previous years, then s/he is not liable for zakat payment in current year.
6. Should a person who leases his/her own house to someone else and rents another place for himself/herself pay zakat for the house s/he owns?
If the rental income of his/her own house exceeds the rent s/he pays and the excess amount of income reaches the nisab amount and remains so for one lunar year, then yes, s/he is liable for paying zakat on this.
7. Does a wife with no other income need to pay zakat for her jewelry?
Thus, if a woman or man has in her/his ownership gold or silver in the form of decorative items, household items or personal jewelry the value of which reaches the appointed Nisab amount on its own or together with other wealth possessed, then s/he will be required to pay Zakat.
8. Which one of the spouses is required to satisfy the duty of zakat (almsgiving) and qurban (sacrifice)?
If both spouses have personal incomes and their wealth exceeds the nisab amount, then each of them is required to satisfy the duty of zakat and qurban individually.
9. We are paying some of our zakat to our employees who are in need of financial aid, is this alright?
It is completely acceptable to pay zakat to one’s employees.
People who are not eligible for receiving zakat are: Those who possess more than the nisab amount of wealth after their basic needs are met (explained in article 2 above), non-Muslims (except for those who are included to the group of “sympathizers”), one’s parents, grandparents…etc. and his/her offspring, their children…etc., one’s own spouse and descendants of Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h).
People except for those stated above are eligible for receiving zakat. The most acceptable way to pay zakat is to give alms first to one’s siblings, then to their children, then uncles and aunts and their children on one’s father’s side, after that, aunts and uncles on one’s mother’s side and their children and then to the rest of one’s relatives. A person’s neighbors, colleagues and other acquaintances follow on the list of priority.
10. Can zakat be sent to poor people in far-away places via aid organizations?
When it comes to paying one’s zakat what matters is “tamlik” (transfer of ownership), that is, to transfer the wealth to one of the 8 categories of recipients listed in the Quran verse. However, in certain situations, a person may be unable to reach the beneficiaries who need the zakat the most. In such situations, it is possible and permissible to send one’s zakat to beneficiaries in far-away places through a system of agency (wakeel). Should one want to transfer his/her zakat to the poor and the needy in a far-away place, s/he submits his/her zakat to a person or institution by assigning that person or institution as an agent (wakeel). The agent transfers the alms to a poor and needy person in the designated place. Thus, the duty of zakat becomes satisfied by meeting the “tamlik” requirement.
11. We calculate out zakat in the beginning of each year and try to pay it in installments to appropriate people as we go throughout the year, is this method alright?
Yes, it is. Zakat can be paid at once or in installments to the poor who is in serious need of assistance, such as having to pay a debt.
12. What types of assets are zakatable?
Gold and silver, trading goods, buried wealth or treasures, oils and minerals, livestock, land produce are zakatable assets. In addition to these, in today’s world, equity and cash are also deemed as zakatable assets. The conditions that should be met are; the person should hold the complete ownership of these, wealth should be equal to or more than the nisab amount after funds needed for basic needs are deducted and should be held in person’s ownership for at least one lunar year.
13. How do we calculate zakat?
Zakat can simply be calculated like this:
A tradesman calculates his/her stock (of whatever he may be trading) at the end of each year, adds up the cash and assets he holds. After deducting his debts, if he has an equivalent of more than 85 grams of gold, then he pays 2,5% of that wealth as zakat.
- Zakat For Islamic Schools and Orphanages
Answer.) Zakat must be given to the poor and needy. Zakat cannot be used directly for constructing a madrassa or an orphanage.
You should give out your zakat personally to the poor and needy who are eligible to accept zakat. If you choose to give your zakat to an organization make sure that there are competent Ulama there who are well versed in the laws of Zakat. You should not give your zakat to an organization where there are no reliable Ulama and the organization is not well versed in the laws of zakat. If they did not discharge your zakat according to Shariah, your zakat obligation will not be fulfilled. And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Source: http://www.albalagh.net/qa/zakat_questionz.shtml
http://www.ihh.org.tr
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