Giving to charity as an obligation
Zakat (or Zakah) is one of the five pillars of Islam, and therefore makes giving to charity an integral part of faith for every Muslim. Paying Zakat is therefore compulsory for Muslims, as are the other four pillars: prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), pilgrimage (Hajj) and belief in Allah and His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (saw) (shahadah).
Zakat is not obligatory upon everyone – it is for those who are adult Muslims, and who own wealth over a particular amount – known as the Nisab. Zakat is calculated as 2.5% of that wealth, and must be paid to those in need. As Zakat is a percentage, it means each person giving to charity, gives a different amount depending on their financial situation, and this will also vary year to year.
You can calculate your Zakat with Muslim Charity, here.
Zakat must be paid once a year, and it is based upon owning wealth above the Nisab for one Islamic (lunar) year. Zakat is distributed among eight groups of vulnerable people in society:
- The poor
- The needy
- Those who distribute Zakat and carry out its administration
- Those whose hearts are to be reconciled, including new Muslims and those who are allies of the Muslim community
- Those in bondage (slaves and captives.)
- The debt-ridden.
- In the cause of God.
- The wayfarer, included those who are lost, stranded or traveling with few resources.
There is also a specific type of Zakat which is payable by all Muslims – Zakat ul Fitr, or Fitrana. This is a fixed amount that must be paid at the end of Ramadan, before Eid salah. The Zakat ul Fitr amount is based upon the current price of a staple food, such as rice or flour, equivalent to a designated weight, known as a ‘Sa’. Some narrations state that this is the equivalence of two hand-fulls of the item. As the price of food varies each year, the amount you will be giving to charity also varies from year to year.
Giving to charity as a choice
Any type of charity that isn’t Zakat and therefore obligatory, is called Sadaqah. It is an act of voluntary charity which has no rules regarding how much you are giving to charity, how often, or who is eligible to give Sadaqah as anyone can make this voluntary contribution. Sadaqah is given without knowing how much reward can be reaped, but a belief in Allah’s generosity, kindness, love and justice.
We know that Prophet Muhammad (saw) was very generous and gave a lot of charity, often leaving him with nothing or very little for himself. In multiple hadith, Prophet Muhammad (saw) has been described as being “as generous as the wind”.
Benefits of giving to charity
Giving to charity, (Sadaqah) brings a lot of benefits in Islam. Firstly, it can help protect us against calamity and hardship.
Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
“Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” (Tirmidhi)
Giving charity, while a practical expense, does not decrease one in wealth as the many blessings that it brings. Muslims believe that any act of Sadaqah will be rewarded and repaid in ways we cannot even imagine, by Allah (swt).
Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
“There is not a day upon which the servant awakens but that two angels descend. One of them says: O Allah, repay one who spends in charity! The other says: O Allah, give destruction to one who withholds charity!” (Bukhari)
Allah (swt) tells us that Sadaqah helps benefit us in the hereafter. Believers who give in charity for the sake of Allah (swt) will be rewarded in the best of ways.
“Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan – it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.” [Qur’an 57:18]
With Muslim Charity, your Sadaqah is saving lives and transforming communities every single day. Your donations can provide life-saving food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, livelihood opportunities and education. You can truly help break cycles of poverty and empower communities. Find out more here.
