ZAKAT

A Powerful Pillar of Islam

Zakat, often translated as almsgiving, is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with believing in the oneness of Allah and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the five daily prayers, fasting the month of Ramadan, and making pilgrimage (Hajj) once in a lifetime, if one has the health and financial resources to do so. 

Zakat, often translated as almsgiving, is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with believing in the oneness of Allah and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the five daily prayers, fasting the month of Ramadan, and making pilgrimage (Hajj) once in a lifetime, if one has the health and financial resources to do so. 

Zakat is due from every sane, adult Muslim who owns wealth over a certain amount–known as the nisab. Two and one-half percent of that wealth must be paid as zakat. That’s 2.5 cents on the dollar. The word zakat literally means purification, and once it becomes due, the amount owed is no longer the rightful property of the one holding it and must be distributed. Note that for the most part zakat is a tax on wealth and not on income.

In the Holy Qur’an (2:110), we read, “And establish prayer and give zakat, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves—you will find it with Allah; surely Allah sees what you do.”

Giving Your zakat through Faseelah Charity is powerful and impactful, and its potential grows by multiples. Your zakat can help provide:Giving Your zakat through Faseelah Charity is powerful and impactful, and its potential grows by multiples. Your zakat can help provide:

  • Food assistance
  • Education
  • Medication
  • Sponsorship of an orphan
  • Clean and safe drinking water
  • and much, much more—all in accordance with the Islamic principles of zakat.

Faseelah Charity Dedication to Distributing Zakat

Faseelah Charity collects and distributes zakat to those who are most in need, in accordance with Islamic guidelines. According to the Holy Qur’an (9:60), there are eight categories of people who qualify to receive zakat:

  • The poor (low-income or destitute)
  • The needy (i.e. those in difficult financial circumstances)
  • The collectors and administrators of zakat (Faseelah Charity USA is an example)
  • Those whose hearts are to be won over to Islam
  • Captives, whose freedom is to be bought
  • Those burdened with debt
  • Those working in the cause of Allah (SWT)
  • Travelers

Most scholars agree that the poor and the needy are the most important categories of people among those entitled to receive zakat. Given that, it is acceptable to earmark your entire zakat allotment to individuals who are in those groups.

FASEELAH CHARITY follows the practice agreed upon by most scholars, which states that collectors of zakat are one of the eight groups that are eligible to receive zakat. As such, FASEELAH CHARITY is eligible to use up to 12.5% of donations made to zakat-specific funds for core work, including administrative and operational functions.

Faseelah Charity consults with a council of imams who follow the Fiqh Council of North America for information about religious donations. 

Our zakat calculator will help you calculate how much you

Here’s some FAQs that may help you understand zakat:

In Arabic, zakat means purification, growth and blessing. It is a charitable practice that requires every Muslim who meet the requirements ( nisab and hawl) to contribute a percentage (a fixed fraction) of their wealth – 2.5% of savings — to help the needy.
Nisab (is an Arabic word, niṣāb (نِصاب)) is the minimum amount of wealth a Muslim must have—after calculating necessary expenses—to be eligible to contribute zakat. Nisab is equivalent to the current value of 3 ounces of gold. Hawl (is an Arabic word, الحَوْلُ) means one lunar year. In other words, the wealth on which zakat should be paid must have been held for one full lunar year. However, there are some forms of zakat that do not require hawl, such as for crops, when zakat should be paid at the time of the harvest.
Every adult Muslim who meets the requirements of nisab and hawl in a calendar year must pay zakat for that year. There are some conditions that may require others, a wali (guardian) of a minor for instance, to pay zakat too.
Yes. In Islam, intention is an essential part of any act of worship, including the payment of zakat. The intention must be made at the time the zakat is paid.

For a detailed list of wealth to include, please see FASEELAH CHARITY’s zakat calculator.
These stipulations delineate the type of wealth that should be accounted for when calculating zakat:

  • The wealth is yours and under your control. You do not need to include outstanding debts when calculating zakat.
  • The wealth is subject to development and increasing.
  • After calculating necessary expenses, the wealth meets the requirements of nisab.
  • Personal belongings, such as clothes, primary homes, food, cars, are exempt from zakat.

One does not have to pay zakat on a primary place of residence. If the house qualifies as a secondary residence that sometimes get rented out, however, zakat is due on it after subtracting necessary expenses from the income generated.

Yes. You may use the current value on stocks.

In the language of the Holy Qur’an, zakat and sadaqah are the same. In practice, however, sadaqah, Alms, is the term used to indicate voluntary charitable giving while zakat is obligatory.

Zakat al-Fitr is paid by the head of the household for each member of the family, before Eid al-Fitr prayer. Zakat al-Fitr is about the price of one meal—estimated at $10 in 2020. Zakat al-Fitr should be paid on behalf of everyone in the family. Please do consult with your local imam or scholar for further clarification.

It should be paid before Eid prayer (or any day during Ramadan). There are some schools of thoughts that also allow for zakat al-Fitr to be paid even before Ramadan. Consult with your local imam or scholar if you need additional information.

Yes, on jewelry you do not regularly wear and that you own for investment purposes.