Zakat is the third pillar of Islam and is a form of worship that involves wealth. However, it is obligatory upon Muslims to pay a portion of his earnings once in a lunar (Hijra) year to the poor and the needy when their earnings reach a prescribed amount (called “Nisab” ) above their needs. Commanded to the Muslims in the second year of Hijra Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an:
“And establish regular Prayer and give Zakah, and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in prayer).” (2:43)
It derives from the Arabic word “Zakah” which means “cleanliness, purification, increase, growth, righteousness, blessing and praise.”
Zakah has to be paid once a year from the date a Muslim wealth equals or exceeds the Nisab. However, only 2.5% of the wealth has to be donate to the eight categories of eligible recipients described in the Holy Quran.
“Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and the cause of Allah and the [stranded] traveler – an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.” (Al-Tawba: 60)
To know whether you are eligible to pay Zakat, we have developed an easy-to-use Zakat Calculator.
Zakat has many benefits and several positive impacts on the society.
If today the whole world follows the principle of Zakat, all the financial problems, unemployment, and poverty would vanish, thus reducing crime and frustration in society.
At Hayat Orphanage, we use your donation/zakat in the best possible manner. Fortunately, Hayat Orphanage at the moment supports 100+ orphan children in Afghanistan. They receive proper education, lodging, food, clothing, school books, shoes, medications, and other primary necessities. And with your continuous donations, we can be able to help more and more orphans across the country.
In Islam, we have two types of Zakat, the first one is Zakat in wealth, and the second one is Zakat-al-Fitr. Zakat in wealth is the third pillar of Islam. It is obligatory upon Muslims whose annual income has exceeded the Nisab threshold. They are obliged to pay only 2.5% of their earnings to the poor and the needy once a year. Zakat-al-Fitr is paid at the end of Ramazan before Eid-ul-Fitr congregational prayer and is also a compulsory deed upon Muslims. However, the rate per person to pay Zakat-al-Fitr is 5 pounds in the UK.
Fidya is a compulsory charity act upon those Muslims who cannot fast during the month of Ramazan. And that is because of an illness, pregnancy, travel, menstruation, old age, and any other valid reasons. As described in the Holy Quran, Allah says:
“Fast a prescribed number of days. But whoever of you is ill or on a journey, then let them fast an equal number of days after Ramadan. For those who only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation is to feed a needy person for every missed day. But whoever volunteers to give more, it is better for them. And to fast is better for you, if only you knew.” Al-Baqarah 2:184
The prescribed amount for Fidya described in the Holy Quran is to feed a needy for every day not fasted that is equal to 5 pounds/day in the UK. If you are not sure about the amount of Fidya per day in your country, please consult a scholar in your hometown.
At Hayat Orphanage, we accept your Fidya and spend it by providing food facilities to the orphan boys and girls across Afghanistan. And with your Zakat we help their families financially and provide the best class education to the orphan children. However, we need your continuous support and cooperation to continue our humanitarian aid to the orphans in Afghanistan.
Kaffarah becomes compulsory when a Muslim intentionally and without a valid reason breaks his fast during the month of Ramazan. Kaffarah is a penalty set forth by Allah for those who intentionally break their oath. And by paying Kaffarah Allah forgives the sins. However, Kaffarah becomes obligatory when a person while fasting in Ramazan
And to compensate Kaffarah for each day of Fasting missed during Ramazan, the person must either
In the UK, the per day of Kaffarah for 60 people is 300 pounds. If you are not sure about the amount of Kaffarah set in your country, please consult an Islamic scholar in your hometown.
However, we accept your Kaffarh at Hayat Orphanage and use it to provide food facilities to the Afghan orphan children in our orphanage and across Afghanistan. Currently, we support 100+ orphans at the orphanage, and the number increases day by day. We also provide them with the best class education services with proper accommodation, clothing, and stationeries.
Eight categories of people are eligible to receive Zakat mentioned in the Holy Quran in Surah Tawba, Ayat 60. And are as follows:
Use Hayat Orphanage’s Zakat Calculator, and calculate your Zakat on gold, silver, savings, bank balance, investment, etc.
You need to pay 2.5% at the end of each year from your total wealth. You have to find how much wealth you had at the end of each year and pay 2.5% of it as a Zakat for every year you have missed.
You need to pay with the intention of Zakat. Every act you do, your intention is important.
Yes, you need to add it while calculating your Zakat.
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