The Blessings of Zakat in Ramadan
Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year, a time when our hearts turn towards Allah (swt) with sincerity, and our acts of worship hold even greater rewards. Among the many blessings of this month, one of the most significant is the opportunity to give Zakat. Giving Zakat in Ramadan is not an obligation but is definitely a means of multiplying our rewards immensely.
All good deeds are multiplied by at least 70 during Ramadan. On Laylatul Qadr, during the last ten nights of Ramadan, we have the opportunity to reap rewards that are better than 1,000 months of rewards! With such immense rewards and blessings being offered during Ramadan, it is an excellent time to pay your Zakat.
Your donations in Ramadan will have a huge impact, both on you and your spiritual growth, and also on those whose lives will be transformed thanks to your generosity.
By giving your Zakat, you can provide food for the hungry, shelter for those who have lost their homes, and education for vulnerable children and open up the doors of possibility for them. The obligation to pay Zakat is a reminder that all wealth is a trust from Allah, and by sharing it, we purify our earnings and bring blessings into our own lives.
Who Must Pay Zakat & Who Benefits from It?
Zakat is an obligation for every Muslim who owns wealth that exceeds the Nisab (the minimum threshold of wealth). If your wealth exceeds this amount and have possessed it for a full lunar year, then you must pay Zakat at a rate of 2.5%. The Nisab is calculated at the current market value of 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver. This changes from day to day and year to year, so it is important to ensure the correct value is understood at the time of paying Zakat.
The Quran (9:60) specifies eight categories of people who are eligible to receive Zakat:
- The poor
- The needy
- Those managing the distributing of Zakat
- Those whose hearts are to be reconciled
- Those in bondage (freeing captives and slaves)
- Those in debt (who cannot repay their obligations)
- Those striving in the cause of Allah
- The stranded traveller in need
Paying Zakat enables us to connect with the wider ummah, and uplift those in need. This reminds us that we are all connected as brothers and sisters, with a duty to do more for others.
