Zakat is the amount of money that every adult, mentally stable, free, and financially able Muslim, male and female, has to pay to support specific categories of people. This category of people is defined in surah at-Taubah (9) verse 60: “The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarers; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is knower, Wise.” (The Holy Qur’an 9:60).

The obligatory nature of Zakat is firmly established in the Qur’an, the Sunnah (or hadith), and the consensus of the companions and the Muslim scholars. Allah states in Surah at-Taubah verses 34-35: “O ye who believe! there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in Falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah”.

Zakat is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the nisab is reached or exceeded. Zakat is not obligatory if the amount owned is less than this nisab.

Global Helping Hands uses zakat to help some of the world’s poorest and most destitute communities. Your donations bring joy to these people and bring hope that one day they will be able to give rather than receive zakat.

“Of their goods, take zakat, so that you might purify and sanctify them.” (9:103, Qur’an)

Zakat is also a spiritual connection to one’s creator: purifying one’s wealth for Allah’s will acknowledges that everything we own belongs to Him, and it is for Him that we strive to eradicate poverty and assist our brothers and sisters.

Zakat is 2.5 percent of one’s wealth that has been in one’s possession for a lunar year, according to the Hanafi madhab. If one’s wealth falls below a certain threshold, known as the nisab, no zakat is due. Zakat becomes obligatory if one’s wealth exceeds the nisab.

How much is Zakat?

Your Zakat contribution should be 2.5 percent of your total net worth. As a result, if your total assets (before any debts) were £1,000, you would pay £25.

The nisab is the bare minimum of wealth that a Muslim must have in order to be eligible to pay Zakat. The nisab threshold is the name given to this amount. The nisab threshold is calculated using two values: gold and silver. The nisab is worth 612.36 grammes of silver or 87.48 grammes of gold.

“And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: And whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with Allah” (Qur’an 2:110).

Who is eligible to receive Zakat?

There are eight categories of people who are eligible to receive Zakat.

• The Poor: Those with little to no income or wealth

• The needy: Those who are without food

• Administrators of Zakat: Anyone designated to collect and distribute Zakat

• Those whose hearts have been recently reconciled

• Those who have been enslaved: Those struggling with unmanageable debt

• Those in debt: Those struggling with unmanageable debt

• In the cause of God

• Travellers: Struggling and/or stranded travellers

According to the rules laid out in the holy Qur’an, not every Muslim is required to pay Zakat. You must be over the age of puberty, of Muslim faith, of sound mind, free, and have a positive cash/goods flow, as well as personal wealth that exceeds the Nisab value to be eligible to pay Zakat.