ZAKAT

What is Zakat? যাকাত কি ?

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and an act of worship. The meaning of zakat is “to purify” and so to purify our own wealth all Muslims are obliged to pay a portion of one’s assets to help those in need. Zakat benefits the giver as well as the receiver.

Zakat can also be spelled as zakah or zakat.

•  ঘরে ব্যবহার্য আসবাবপত্র ও সর্ব প্রকার  ঋণ বা দেনা বাদে যার নিকট অন্তত: সাড়ে  সাত (৭।৫০) ভরি সর্ণ অথবা সাড়ে বায়ান্ন (৫২।৫) ভরি রুপা বা এর সম পরিমাণ টাকা পায়সা থাকে বা ব্যবসার মালামাল থাকে তাহলে উহার মূল্যের শতকরা আড়াই (২।৫০%) টাকা যাকাত  দিতে হবে।

What types of wealth does zakat include?

Assets to include in your zakat calculation are cash (on hand and in bank accounts), shares, pensions, gold, silver, business goods, crops and cattle. You do not need to count personal items such as your home, furniture, cars, food, clothing, which are not used for business purposes.

Zakat is also due on property that is owned for investment (rent or re-sale).

What is the nisab?- নিসাব কি ?

The nisab is a minimum amount of wealth that a Muslim must possess for a whole year before zakat becomes due.

How much is the nisab? -  নিসাব কত ?

The value of nisab can be determined in two ways:

After meeting all basic/fundamental needs of one year if there remains additional/extra (Wealth equal to amount of Nisaab i.e. 

•       Gold amounting 87.2093 gm (7.5 tola or Vori) -  সাড়ে  সাত (৭।৫০) ভরি সর্ণ

     or অথবা 

•       Silver amounting of 610.4651 gm (52.5 tola or Vori) -সাড়ে বায়ান্ন (৫২।৫) ভরি রুপা

      or অথবা

•     Price of wealth equal to the price of this amount of Gold/Silver. - সাড়ে  সাত (৭।৫০) ভরি সর্ণ অথবা সাড়ে বায়ান্ন (৫২।৫) ভরি রুপা সম পরিমাণ সম্পদ 

Who Should Pay Zakat ? ক্কে যাকাত দিবে ?

In order to pay zakat, a Muslim must be adult, sane and possess the nisab (a minimum amount of wealth) for an entire year. 

Who can benefit from zakat? কাকে যাকাত দিতে হবে ?

The Holy Qur’an tells us who may benefit from zakat:

• the poor  - গরিব
• the destitute - দুঃস্থ
• administrators of zakat - জাকাত প্রশাসক
• new Muslims facing hardship - নব মুসলিম যে সংকটে আছে
• Muslims who are unable to pay their debt - ঋণগ্রস্থ মুসলিম
• travellers who do not have enough money to return home - মুসাফির যার কাছে বাড়ি ফেরার টাকা নাই
• people working in the path of Allah - আল্লাহ-এর পথে কাজ করে এমন বাক্তি
• zakat may also be used to free slaves - দাসমুক্ত করণ কাজে 

The majority of scholars hold the opinion that Zakat is to be both paid and received by Muslims. Other forms of charity such as Sadaqah can be given to Muslims and/or non-Muslims alike.

Zakat cannot be given to:

• 1. The rich.
• 2. The strong and able poor e.g. those capable but not willing to work.
• 3. The heretic, apostate, those disbelievers actively fighting Islam.
• 4. The family of the Prophet (peace be upon him) – The names of the Prophet’s tribes are Banū Hāshim and Banū Muṭṭalib.
• 5. Lineal descendants i.e. children and grandchildren
• 6. Lineal ascendants i.e. parents and grandparents
• 7. Husband and Wives

- See more at: http://www.nzf.org.uk/Knowledge/Introductory_Knowledge/Who_can_Zakat_not_be_given_to#sthash.TpGTN21h.dpuf

Who can Zakat not be given to?

The majority of scholars hold the opinion that Zakat is to be both paid and received by Muslims. Other forms of charity such as Sadaqah can be given to Muslims and/or non-Muslims alike.

Zakat cannot be given to:

• 1. The rich.
• 2. The strong and able poor e.g. those capable but not willing to work.
• 3. The heretic, apostate, those disbelievers actively fighting Islam.
• 4. The family of the Prophet (peace be upon him) – The names of the Prophet’s    tribes are Banū Hāshim and Banū Muṭṭalib.

• 5. Lineal descendants i.e. children and grandchildren
• 6. Lineal ascendants i.e. parents and grandparents 
• 7. Husband and Wives

When should I pay zakat?

Zakat becomes payable as soon as the nisab (minimum amount of wealth) has been held for one lunar year. Some people choose to pay their zakat during Ramadan in recognition of this special time of year and because rewards for good deeds carried out during Ramadan are multiplied. However, it is our duty to pay zakat when it becomes due rather than delay payment and wait for Ramadan.

Zakat Calculator

Here you can find Zakat Calculator in excel format:  Download Zakat Calculator

Q&A 

1.  Who will pay the Zakat for the wealth and Ornaments of Husband and wife?

Though the wish of husband and wife are considered as of a same family as their ownership is separate. Their Zakat should have to be paid off separately. Wife has to  pay off Zakat by selling some of her ornaments or saving money from retail expense if she has no wealth except ornaments. If husband pays Zakat of ornaments on behalf of wife Zakat would be paid off. 

      Though wealth of husband and wife remains together in one family, as ownership is different, Zakat has to be paid separately for their individual/own wealth.


2. Zakat on Loan condition ?

After deducting/deducing the debt/loan taken for family necessities, if there remains amount of wealth equal to the amount of nisab, then Zakat has to be paid.