The term “zakat” refers to the obligatory almsgiving prescribed to the believers to purify them. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to grow.” (9:103)
Every Muslim is expected to know that the payment of zakat is one of the obligations of Islamic law. Therefore, if a Muslim claims that it is not obligatory, they will be considered an apostate. Furthermore, in several Qur’anic verses, the word “zakat” is mentioned right after the word “prayer.” Indeed, Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Establish the prayer and give zakat.” (2:43)
He also says:
“If they repent, establish the prayer, and give zakat, then let them go their way.” (9:5)
He also says:
“If they repent, establish the prayer, and give zakat, they will be your brothers in religion.” (9:11)
He also says:
“They were only commanded to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, establish the prayer, and give zakat.” (98:5)
In this regard, Imam as-Sadiq (a.s) said: “God has assigned to the poor a portion of the wealth of the rich, more than enough for them. And if He knew that it was insufficient, He would give them even more. Therefore, if they are still in need, it is not due to the insufficiency of the portion God has assigned to them, but because they are deprived of it. If people gave them their share, they would live in ease.”
This hadith clearly shows that poverty does not come from God; it is the result of human injustice.
In another hadith, Imam al-Baqir (a.s) said: “God, the Almighty, will not question a person about any prayer other than the obligatory prayer, nor about any charity other than zakat, nor about any fasting other than that of the month of Ramadan.”
Who must pay zakat?
For a person to be obligated to pay zakat, they must meet the following conditions:
- Reach the age of puberty. Indeed, Younes Ibn Ya’qoub said: “One day I sent the following message to Imam as-Sadiq: ‘I have younger brothers, and I don’t know when they should start paying zakat.’ The Imam (a.s) replied: ‘When prayer becomes obligatory for them, zakat will also be obligatory.'”
In another hadith, Imam as-Sadiq (a.s) also said: “An orphan is not obligated to pay zakat on his money or on any of his crops (whether date palms or grains), and he is not obligated to perform prayer. When he reaches the age of puberty, he will not be required to pay zakat on past wealth or future wealth, until he reaches the age of reason. Once he reaches that age, he must pay one zakat, meaning he will have the same obligations as others.”
Most jurists have considered this hadith, which refutes the view that it is obligatory for those who have not reached the age of puberty to pay zakat on assets other than the two currencies (meaning gold and silver coins). Indeed, it is recommended that the guardian of a child (whether the father, grandfather, or the governor) pay zakat on the child’s wealth.
2. Be of sound mind.
The author of al-Jawahir said: “Most jurists have stated that all rulings regarding children also apply to the insane.” This means that it is not obligatory to pay zakat on the wealth of an insane person. The same author also said: “However, there is nothing to support a jurist issuing such an opinion. Therefore, it is difficult to accept.”
3. The wealth must exclusively belong to the person who is obligated to pay zakat, and it must be at their disposal.
Therefore, a gift can only be subject to zakat if it is in the possession of the recipient. The same applies to an inheritance from a will, an item on loan, a stolen item, or an item pledged as collateral.
Indeed, Imam as-Sadiq (a.s) said: “You are not obliged to pay the obligatory almsgiving on something you have lent to someone, or on an asset that is not in your possession until it is at your disposal.” And when Zurarah asked him about a man who could not retrieve the money he had, he replied: “He is not obliged to pay zakat until he recovers it. Once he recovers it, he must pay zakat for one year.”
According to the author of al-Hada’iq, most jurists have stated that it is not obligatory to pay zakat on something that has been lent to someone, even if it can be retrieved at any time.
The Different Types of Assets Subject to Zakat
It is obligatory to pay zakat on the following items: camels, cattle, sheep, wheat, barley, dates, raisins, gold, and silver.
It is recommended to pay zakat on measurable or weighable cereals other than wheat and barley (such as chickpeas, rice, and lentils), fruits (such as apples and apricots), money invested in business, mares, and real estate intended for rental (such as gardens, shops, buildings, etc.).
What proves that it is only recommended to pay zakat on these items are the hadiths of Ahl-ul-Bayt (a.s), which, on the surface, suggest that zakat is obligatory on all of these things, but which have been interpreted differently by jurists in order to reconcile them with authentic hadiths that state zakat applies only to nine items.
Goals of Zakat
- To purify the believer’s wealth first and foremost, and to act as a statement of faith.
- To enable the poorest to meet their needs, which is a right under the collective responsibility promoted by Islam.
- To bring people’s hearts closer to God.
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam, and its very essence reveals the importance of social participation in the Muslim world. Zakat is clearly a tax on wealth and property, which must first be understood as an obligation before God. This contribution purifies the wealth of its possessor on a religious, sacred, and moral level.
