Understanding Zakat in Islam
The zakat is one of the pillars of Islam; it represents an obligatory act of worship for all the persons concerned and a purification of wealth that it is important to explain. It is also an act of solidarity towards the Muslim community. In this article, we will address the various aspects of zakat, its translation into French, the differences between zakat and sadaqa. We will also address the question of the persons to whom one must give the zakat, but also when and how to give the zakat el fitr and the zakat el mal.
Zakat : translation and meaning in French
The term "zakat" comes from the Arabic الزكاة (az-zakāt) which literally means "purification". In French, zakat is often translated by "legal alms" or "obligatory alms". It represents the injunction by the Creator of the Worlds to detach oneself from earthly goods, which the believer must obey out of love and out of fear. It is an injunction to purify one's wealth by taking from our annual savings (a complete lunar year) a share of what Allah has given him to give it back to the needy, beyond what it embodies for others of the mere notion of sharing and solidarity within the Muslim community.
The person eligible for zakat must pay it once a year on the savings of accumulated wealth, if they reach the nisab. It is calculated as follows : 85 x the price of a gram of gold.
Zakat has as its objective to purify the wealth of the donor in the first place, but also to help those in need. The believer seeks, through his contribution to the Pleasure of Allah, the divine reward, just as he fears His Punishment if he transgresses this Divine command.
Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam
Islam rests on five fundamental pillars that guide the spiritual and social life of Muslims. These pillars are :
- The profession of faith (shahada)
- The prayer (salat)
- The zakat (legal alms)
- The fast of the month of Ramadan (sawm)
- The pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)
Zakat therefore occupies a central place in the religious practice and the daily life of Muslims. It is considered an act of piety of very great value towards Allah, but also as a means of strengthening the bonds between the members of the community.
Differences between zakat and sadaqa
Although the terms "zakat" and "sadaqa" are often used to designate alms in Islam, there are notable differences between these two concepts :
- The zakat is an obligatory alms that must be paid by every Muslim whose wealth reaches or exceeds a certain threshold (nisab). Zakat is calculated according to precise rules and must be distributed to specific beneficiaries.
- The sadaqa, for its part, is a voluntary alms that the believer may give at any time and without constraint. It aims to accomplish acts of charity and to come to the aid of those in need.
Zakat : To whom should it be given ?
The zakat must be distributed among eight categories of beneficiaries mentioned in the Quran (surah 9, verse 60) :
- The poor (al-fuqarâ')
- The needy (al-masâkîn)
- Those who collect and distribute the zakat (al-'âmiline 'alayhâ)
- Those whose hearts are to be won over (al-mu'allafatu qulûbuhum)
- The freeing of slaves (ar-riqâb)
- The debtors (al-ghârimîn)
- The cause of Allah (fî sabîlillâh)
- The traveller in need (ibn as-sabîl)
It is important to point out that zakat must not be used for family expenses (unless certain members of the family belong to one of these categories), nor to finance projects unrelated to the general interest of the Muslim community.
When and how to give the zakat el fitr ?
The favourable moment for the zakat el fitr
The zakat el fitr, also called "alms of the breaking of the fast", must be paid by every Muslim before the prayer of Aïd el Fitr, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan. Its main objective is to purify the fasting person from the imperfections committed during this sacred month and to help the needy celebrate Aïd in dignity.
The amount and the nature of the zakat el fitr
The amount of the zakat el fitr is fixed at one saa (about 2.03 kg) of basic foodstuffs (wheat, barley, dates, raisins...) for each member of the household. It is recommended to give this alms in kind, following the practice of the Prophet Mohamed, peace and salutation of Allah be upon him, although some opinions differ on the admissibility and the possibility of paying it in the form of money.
When and how to give the zakat el mal ?
The favourable moment for the zakat el mal
The zakat el mal, or "alms on wealth", must be paid when the nisab is reached or exceeded during a complete lunar year. The nisab corresponds to the minimum threshold of wealth fixed by Islamic jurisprudence for being subject to zakat. It varies according to the nature of the goods concerned (gold, silver, livestock, merchandise...). It is due when the Hijri year is complete, on the savings of the year.
As an indication, today the nisab is, according to the current price of a gram of gold, 4971.65€ (source from the 24Hgold website).
The calculation and the distribution of the zakat el mal
The amount of the zakat el mal is generally established at 2.5% of the total value of the wealth subject to zakat. This rate may vary according to the juridical schools and the types of goods concerned. Once the amount is determined, it is appropriate to distribute it towards one of the eight categories of beneficiaries mentioned previously.
In sum, zakat represents an essential act in the life of the Muslim and constitutes a concrete means of putting into practice his attachment to the prescriptions of his Lord. To extirpate from one's heart the love of the goods of this lower world passes through obedience to this pillar of Islam and through the strengthening in one's heart of the values of sharing, mutual aid and solidarity advocated by the Islamic religion. Thus it is through the zakat el fitr and the zakat el mal that the believer purifies his wealth and contributes to the well-being of his community.