ZAKAT (ALMS) AS A COMMAND
IN ISLAM
Q. What do we mean by Zakat (alms)?
Zakat is the name given in Islam to that
portion of money or wealth which, as per Al-lah’s command, is given to the poor
and the needy so that they become the owners of it. In other words, fasting and
prayers are forms of bodily worship while Zakat is a form of worship which is
pecuniary in nature.
Q. Is the giving of alms a commanded (Fard)
or an ordained (Wajib) act?
Giving alms is a commanded act. The
commanded nature of Zakat is evident from the verses of the Qur-an as well as
from the sayings (Hadith) of the holy Prophet (peace be on him). Anyone denying
the commanded nature of Zakat is an unbeliever.
Q. Under what conditions does ‘alms-giving’
become a command for a person?
‘Alms giving’ is a command for a person
who combines in himself the following conditions:
i. He is a Muslim;
ii. He is a free person;
iii. He is a major;
iv. He is the owner of Nisab (the minimum
required capital free from all encumbrances and needs);
v. One full year has passed since he came to
exclusively possess the above said capital.
Zakat will become a command
and an obligation if all the above conditions combine in a person. Naturally,
therefore, an unbeliever, a slave, a lunatic or a minor are not duty bound to
pay Zakat.
Similarly, if a person has
less capital with him than the minimum prescribed for Nisab or he is under debt
or else one full year has not elapsed since he came to possess so much wealth,
Zakat is not a command for him.
ALMS-WORTHY CAPITAL AND
ALMS (ZAKAT)
Q. Which capital is liable for alms to be
given out of it?
Zakat must be given out of silver, gold
and all kinds of merchandise.
Q. Does the terms silver and gold apply only
to their coins or to anything and everything made thereof?
All the things made of gold and silver
are alms-worthy whether they are guineas, coins, ornaments, ware and the
articles of embroidery.
Q. Are gems (precious stones) liable for
alms?
Alms must be paid for gems in ones
possession if it is meant for merchandise. If it is not for trade, no alms is
commanded to be given out of it, irrespective of its value. Similarly, if a
person has utensil of copper or some other metal worth than the minimum amount
prescribed for charitable capital or he has shop or a house worth more than
this limit for which rent is also received by him or else has goods other than
gold or silver, but none of these things are traded by him, Zakat will not be a
command for him.
Q. What is the law in Shariah about a person
who has government almsworthy notes?
He is commanded to pay Zakat for them.
Q. If a person has only a little quantity of
silver and a little of gold so that neither of them constitutes the prescribed
charitable capital singly, is he still commanded to pay Zakat for it?
In such a situation, gold should first be
valued in terms of silver or silver in terms of gold to see whether the value
of the two put together becomes of the order fixed for Nisab (almsworthy
capital). If the value is not less than the prescribed limit discussed above,
Zakat must be paid, otherwise it is not necessary.
Q. Is Zakat commanded for a person who has
merely a certain quantity of gold (whether it is equivalent in value to the
minimum quantity of silver prescribed for Nisab or more) and no silver in any
form (coins, ornaments, etc.)?
Zakat is not obligatory on him.
Q. What do we mean by the term “merchandise”?
Anything meant for sale and profit making
whether food grain, sugar, footwear, grocery etc., comes under the definition
of “merchandise”.
Q. What do we mean by Nisab (almsworthy
capital)?
The Shariah has prescribed certain
minimum quantities for the items of wealth out of which Zakat must be paid. The
moment one comes to possess such quantities of these articles; Zakat becomes a
command for him. This quantity is known as Nisab (almsworthy capital).
Q. What is the prescribed minimum almsworthy
capital for silver?
The minimum almsworthy capital for silver
is about 606 grams.
Q. How much Zakat should be paid for 606
grams of silver?
Zakat must be paid at the rate of 1/40th
of silver. As such the quantity to be paid out of it comes to a little over 15
grams.
Q. What quantity of gold is the minimum almsworthy
capital?
The minimum prescribed almsworthy
quantity for gold is about 89 grams and the amount of Zakat out of it
calculates to about 2.22 grams.
Q. What is the minimum amount of almsworthy
capital in case of merchandise?
Value the merchandise in terms of gold or
silver. Then considering the minimum limit prescribed for either of them,
calculate the Zakat on it.
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