Zakat is a mandatory form of charity that every adult Muslim, who is mentally sound, free, and financially capable, must give to assist specific groups in need. The recipients of Zakat are outlined in Surah At-Tawbah (9:60):
“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.”
(Al-Qur’an 9:60)
“Take from their wealth a charity to purify and cleanse them.” – Al-Qur’an 9:103
The obligation of paying Zakat is clearly established in the Qur’an, the Sunnah (Hadith), and the consensus of the Prophet’s companions and Islamic scholars. As stated in Surah At-Tawbah (9:34-35):
“O you who believe! Indeed, many of the priests and monks consume the wealth of people unjustly and hinder them from the way of Allah…”
Zakat becomes mandatory when a person’s wealth reaches a certain threshold, known as the nisab. If one’s wealth is below the nisab, Zakat is not required.
Al Haq Foundation Pakistan: Transforming Lives with Your Zakat
At Al Haq Foundation Pakistan, we are deeply committed to ensuring that your generous donations have the greatest impact in alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable, especially in Pakistan. Thanks to your Zakat contributions, we’ve been able to support critical relief efforts for communities affected by disasters such as the 2022 Pakistan floods, as well as in regions like D.I. Khan, Sindh, KPK, and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By prioritizing the first category of Zakat—helping the poor and needy—we make sure that your donations directly benefit those who need it most. We also allocate a small portion of the funds towards administrative costs to ensure that aid is distributed efficiently and transparently.
Your 2.5% can be 100% life-changing for someone in need.
Donate Zakat today and explore our Zakat Guide to see how your contributions are bringing hope and relief to those who need it most.
Nisab is the minimum amount of wealth required to make a person liable to pay Zakat. The nisab (or minimum amount) of gold and golden currency is 20 mithqal, this is approximately 85 grams of pure gold. One mithqal is approximately 4.25 grams. The nisab of silver and silver currency is 200 dirhams, which is approximately 595 grams of pure silver. The nisab of other kinds of money and currency is to be scaled to that of gold, 85 grams of pure gold. This means that the nisab of money is the price of 85 grams of 999-type (pure) gold, on the day in which Zakat is paid. (Current Gold Prices
At any day of the year (eg 21st Ramadan) add up the value of your gold, silver, savings, cash, shares etc – these are your total assets. Minus from this any money you owe and any bills immediately due – these are your liabilities. If the balance is more than the nisab value, then you have to pay Zakat of 2.5% on the whole amount.
Zakat is only due on assets held for more than a lunar year.
Zakat is not due on your main home.
Mortgage loans should not be deducted from your assets.
Businesses also need to pay Zakat on their profits and stock
Examples
If the nisab is $2,840 (PKR 497,451) this Ramadan and you have savings of $1,313 (PKR 229,983) and gold worth $1,970 (PKR 345,063) (Total $3,284)(PKR 575,222) , then you have to pay 2.5% of the whole amount as Zakat – which = $82 (PKR 1,4363).
Zakat is obligatory after a time span of one lunar year passes with the money in the control of its owner. Then the owner needs to pay 2.5% (or 1/40) of the money as Zakat. (A lunar year is approximately 355 days).
The owner should deduct any amount of money he or she borrowed from others, then check if the rest reaches the necessary nisab, then pays Zakat for it. If the owner had enough money to satisfy the nisab at the beginning of the year, then the money increased (in profits, salaries, inheritance, grants…etc.), the owner needs to add the increase to the nisab amount owned at the beginning of the year, then pay Zakat, 2.5%, of the total at the end of the lunar year. (there are small differences in the fiqh schools here) Each Muslim calculates his or her own Zakat individually. For most purposes this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one’s capital. A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as 🙶 voluntary charity 🙷 it has a wider meaning. The Prophet said ‘even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity.’
