ZAKAT-Who deserves it and how to calculate?

Question

WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEANS WHEN WE SAY THAT ZAKAT HAS TO BE GIVEN TO MUSLIMS WHO REALLY NEED IT?
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE MUST RECIEVE ZAKAT?
CAN WE GIVE ZAKAT TO A PERSON AND NOT TELL HIM THAT WHAT EVER WE ARE GIVING HIM IS ZAKAT?
IN OUR DAYS THEY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE RECIEVING ZAKAT AND ASKING FOR IT, IT CONFUSES ME.
HOW TO CALCULATE ZAKAT?
WHAT ABOUT GOLD OR SILVER THAT WE HAVE FOR YEARS,DO WE HAVE TO GIVE ZAKAT ON THAT EVERY YEAR?
OR WE GIVE ONCE AND IF WE GET MORE WE TAKE OUT ZAKAT FOR THAT ONLY?
WHAT ABOUT PRODUCTS THAT WE BUY TO SELL?

Answer 1

http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/Zakat/#learn

Answer 2

I think all the information is there. So as told you can start at home with the Zakat and if there is nobody then you can spread it out. You can help also non muslims with the Zakat. Zakat is to be paid 2.5%. They say to pay annualy but I prefer to pay monthly as you do not put a burden to yourself and secondly ask yourself will a poor person wait for you a full year to get charity? I would recommend to pay monthly.

Answer 3

First of all charity begins at home, if your family members are in need, zakat does not mean giving money, zakat can be given in help, and it does not mean that only Muslims benefit, the non Muslims are also in need.

And by your actions as a Muslim to help Muslims and non Muslims will make it easy for you to cross the Pul-Sirat.

Your reference to gold and silver, it depends how much you have got, one will have to give zakat if you have a huge quantity, or in the hereafter your forehead and back will be branded with what you hoard away.

Answer 4

It is an obligation on Muslims to pay 2.5% of their wealth to specified categories in society when their annual wealth exceeds a minimum level (nisab). Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

There are eight categories of people who may receive the collected Zakat:

1. FUQARA: people who are poor and who possess more than their basic needs but do not possess wealth equal to Nisab.

2. MASAKEEN: people who are destitute and extremely needy to the extent they are forced to beg for their daily food rations.

3. AL-AMILEEN: people appointed by an Islamic Government to collect Zakat.

4. MU-ALLAFATUL-QULUB: persons who have recently accepted Islam and are in need of basic necessities who would benefit from encouragement by Muslims which would help strengthen their faith.

5. AR-RIQAAB: slaves who are permitted to work for remuneration and have an agreement from their masters to purchase their freedom on payment of fixed amounts.

6. AL-GHAARIMEEN: persons who have a debt and do not possess any other wealth or goods with which they could repay that which they owe. It is conditional that this debt was not created for any un-Islamic purpose.

7. FI-SABILILLAH: persons who have to carry out an obligatory deed which has become obligatory on them and subsequently (due to loss of wealth) are unable to complete that obligation.

8. IBN-US-SABEEL: persons who are travellers and during the course of their journey do not possess basic necessities, though they are well to do at home. They could be given Zakat in order to fulfil travel needs to return home.


Zakat is calculated on your accumulated wealth that is not tied up in trade or business and isn't classified as essential. Therefore you do not have to pay Zakat on your home and personal car. However if you have a second car or house you will have to pay Zakat on them.

As for any item if you had it for more than 1 year then you have to pay Zakat on it every year. Its not a case of you pay for it once. Remember you don't you expect your business to pay profit every year and not just the once.

Good luck in paying your Zakat.

Answer 5

dragon prince had put it alright for you
for gold
1 as goods,buying and selling you must pay the % every year
2 as jewelery you use daily monthly yearly no matter some prefere to pay once in a life time,others make the calculation of the gold price every year and pay it
for farming stuff it has got its regulation
olive trees.wheat,sheep,cattle
it has its own calculation
it is said that Kalifa Omar has paid of the (money house) to a jew
one important think i should say
one of the fellows made a mistake
ZAKAT is never to be paid to those in your house hold,those you are obliged naturally to spend money ubon them,it is preferably paid to more related but not your daughter whom you naturally spend on her,or your wife ,or son who is with you

Answer 6

here an answer to your qestion by a Muslim scholar:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546152