Acts of Charity as a Religious Duty in Christianity and Islam
Senior 3 · Religion and Ethics
Acts of Charity as a Religious Duty in Christianity and Islam
Lesson 3 of 4
30 min
Take a pillar away from a building and the roof falls in. Muslims describe their faith as resting on five pillars, and the third of them is zakat. A Muslim who prays but refuses zakat when it is due is not living Islam fully. This lesson explains what zakat is, who pays it, how much, who receives it, and what the Qur'an teaches about giving and its purpose.
Definition
Zakat: the obligatory yearly giving of 2.5% (one fortieth) of a Muslim's savings and certain other wealth, once it has reached a minimum amount and been held for a full lunar year.
Nisab: the minimum amount of wealth a person must have before zakat is due. Many scholars set it at the value of 85 grams of gold; some use the value of 595 grams of silver, which is lower.
Hawl: the full lunar (Islamic) year for which wealth must be held before zakat is due on it.
Mustahiqq (plural mustahiqqin): a person entitled to receive zakat.
The Qur'an itself names the groups who may receive it:
"The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarer; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is Knower, Wise." (Qur'an 9:60)
The poor and the needy come first. The other groups include those who run the collection, debtors who cannot pay, travellers stranded far from home, and causes that serve the faith and the community. Zakat may not be paid to one's own parents, children or spouse, whom a Muslim must support anyway.
Worked example
Worked example 1: is zakat due, and how much? Suppose gold costs 150,000 FRW a gram (an illustrative price). Hassan has held savings of 16,000,000 FRW for a full lunar year.
Worked example
Worked example 2: below the nisab. With the same gold price, Amina has savings of 3,000,000 FRW.
Righteousness is shown in giving.
"It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the Prophets; and giveth his wealth, for love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and observeth proper worship and payeth the poor-due." (Qur'an 2:177, first part)
Giving grows.
"The likeness of those who spend their wealth in Allah’s way is as the likeness of a grain which groweth seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. Allah giveth increase manifold to whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing." (Qur'an 2:261)
Give without hurting the receiver.
"Those who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah and afterward make not reproach and injury to follow that which they have spent; their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them, neither shall they grieve." (Qur'an 2:262)
Quiet giving is better.
"If ye publish your almsgiving, it is well, but if ye hide it and give it to the poor, it will be better for you, and will atone for some of your ill-deeds. Allah is Informed of what ye do." (Qur'an 2:271)
Give what you value. "Ye will not attain unto piety until ye spend of that which ye love. And whatsoever ye spend, Allah is aware thereof." (Qur'an 3:92).
A warning. A short surah describes a person who prays for show but neglects the weak:
"Hast thou observed him who belieth religion? That is he who repelleth the orphan, And urgeth not the feeding of the needy. Ah, woe unto worshippers Who are heedless of their prayer; Who would be seen (at worship) Yet refuse small kindnesses!" (Qur'an 107:1–7)
| Purpose | Explanation | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Purification | giving cleans the heart of greed and the wealth of what belongs to others | 9:103 |
| Growth and blessing | Allah multiplies what is given in His way | 2:261 |
| Worship and thanks | zakat is joined to prayer as a duty to Allah | 2:43; 2:177 |
| Justice in society | wealth flows to the poor, the indebted and the stranded | 9:60 |
| Dignity and brotherhood | gifts must not shame the receiver | 2:262–263 |
Video: "Zakat in Islam Explained | How, When, and Why to Pay Zakah", Just 5ive Islam. A two-minute summary of when zakat becomes due, how it is calculated and why it purifies wealth. Check its figures against the definitions above.
Tip
One fortieth. 2.5% is the same as dividing by 40. To estimate zakat quickly, divide the savings by 40.
Warning
Common mistakes. (1) Paying zakat on wealth below the nisab or held for less than a lunar year: it is not yet due, though sadaqah is always welcome. (2) Thinking zakat replaces kindness: Surah 107 condemns those who "refuse small kindnesses". (3) Making a show of giving that shames the poor (2:262–263).
Practice
Remember
Sources and credits
