Zakat

Zakat (Arabic: زكاة‎ zakāh [zaˈkaːh], "that which purifies", also Zakat al-mal [zaˈkaːt alˈmaːl] زكاة المال, "zakat on wealth", or Zakah) is a form of alms-giving treated in Islam as a religious obligation or tax, which, by Quranic ranking, is next after prayer (salat) in importance.As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, zakat is a religious duty for all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of wealth. It is a mandatory charitable contribution, often considered to be a tax. The payment and disputes on zakat have played a major role in the history of Islam, notably during the Ridda wars.Zakat is based on the value of all of one's possessions.

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Zakat

Can a person give Zakat to his ancestors or descendants or paid employees? If not, what is the reason for it?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 3 months ago

It is not allowed to give the Zakat to a person whose financial responsibility is on you like your parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, wife, etc.

You must spend on them from your own money if they are poor.

Paying Zakat to your paid employees is permissible under certain conditions. If their expenses are more than their income, so, they are poor. Poor is entitled to receive Zakat. You can not pay Zakat against the work of any one.

Wassalam.

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Zakat . Employment

Is it allowed to work as a freelancer making websites when sometimes clients may demand work that could be unIslamic? Would any earning from such work be purified through paying Zakat or should I pick another career?

It is not allowed to design or make websites or any other media which contain unlawful contents. Money earned from unlawful work is also unlawful and you are not permitted to use it. You must leave such job which requires you to take part in unlawful work. Your income must be completely lawful.

Wassalam.

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Zakat . Khums

Can we pay Zakat or Khums ahead of time as an advance?

Yes it is permissible to pay Khums before your Khums date, then you take the date of payment as a new date for your next year Khums.

Wassalam.

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Zakat . Family . Poor

Is it counted as Zakat if we helped a family member who had financial problems or was poor?

Yes, it is allowed to help any family member from Zakat if he is: 1) Really poor.

2) Abiding to Islamic rules.

3) He should not be a parent or a spouse or a sibling, because it is compulsory to look after the needs of your parents and spouse and siblings from your own money not from Zakat or Khums.

You don't need to inform him if he is entitled to Zakat that it is from Zakat.

It is highly recommended to help the needy relatives as the Hadeeth says: There is no charity when a relative is in need. لا صدقة وذو رحم محتاج.

Wassalam.

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Zakat . Western Society . Tax

Why do people in the West who already pay multiple taxes, that get used by the government to pay for the poor and needy, also have to pay Islamic taxes such as Zakat?

Zakat and Khums are obligatory on every Muslim who has more than his expenses. Taxes are part of our expenses and Khums will obligatory on the remaining amounts after paying all the lawful expenses including Taxes.

Wassalam.

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Zakat . Caliphate . Sunni-Shi'a

Did Imam Ali (as) pay any religious dues such as Zakat to the first three caliphs during their rule?

Imam Ali (AS) is the Imam of all Muslims by order of Allah (SWT) declared by the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) in hundreds of occasions including Ghadeer Khum in which the Proohet ordered all Muslims who were present to give allegiance to Ali (AS) as the leader of all who believed in the Prophet ( SAWA). The political plot of Saqeefa did deprive Imam Ali (AS) from his right in the government, but did not change the fact the he is the real Imam of Muslims. Being the real Imam, Imam Ali (AS) never dealt with the three Khalifs as real successors of the Prophet (SAWA) but just worldly rulers. He never gave them his Zakat nor prayed behind any of them. ( Al-Thahabi; Seyar A'lam Al-Nubalaa' , Vol 9, Page 284) stated: Ali did not attend with the three Khalifs any Jum'ah Prayer nor Jama'ah prayers.

Wassalam.

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Zakat . Tax

Is paying income tax or other such taxes counted as Zakat?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answer updated 9 months ago

as salam alaikum

Income taxes and other similar taxes are not counted as zakat. Zakat is a religious duty and an act of worship that is paid with a specific intention and whose revenues are to be given to the recipients specified in verse 60 of sura al-Tawbah.

With prayers for your success.

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Zakat . Employment

How is Zakat applicable for a salaried employee and what are the rules to be followed in this case?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 1 year ago

Bismihi ta'ala

There is no Zakat in the afore-mentioned situation. In Shi'ah Fiqh Zakat is specific for certain items and particular scenarios.

And Allah knows best.

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Zakat . Poverty

Why is poverty a test of Zakat if it is there to eliminate it?

Poverty is a test for people who are not poor to examine their obedience in paying Zakat.

No doubt Zakat aims to eliminate poverty.

Wassalam.

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Zakat . Repentance (Tawbah) . Theft

I stole some money and have since repented. I can’t return it as the company I stole from no longer exists. Does previous charity before I repented wipe away that debt?

You must do every thing you can to return the money to its owners either directly to them or to their inheritors if they are dead.

If you tried your best and could not reach to them, then it must be given to the Marja' of Taqleed who will distribute it to the poor as Majhool al-Maalik (unknown owner) on behalf of the real owners.

Wassalam.

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Zakat . Food . Halal

Is it permissible to donate to charity or a food drive cans of non-halal chicken soup that were accidentally acquired while buying other foodstuff?

Abolfazl Sabouri, Abolfazl Sabouri is based in New Zealand and has an MA in Jurisprudence and Islamic Studies. He is a graduate of Elmiyeh seminary in Qom with more than 15 years of study and research where he has... Answered 1 year ago

It is permissible to donate to nun-Muslims

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Khums . Zakat

If a father does not pay khums and zakat then will all the things bought from that earning be considered usurped (ghasbi) and haraam for the baaligh child who lives with him?

Saleem Bhimji, Shaykh Saleem Bhimji was born and raised in Canada. After completing his post-secondary education at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), he moved to Medina, New York, to study at... Answered 1 year ago

Salam Alaykum,

The child who lives with such a father does not have to consider the things brought into the house as being usurped (ghasbi) andn the child can make use of them with no problem.