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Our Zakat donation guide will answer all your questions on the basics of Zakat including who is eligible to pay it, who is eligible to receive it and when you are expected to pay Zakat each year. For any further questions, you should seek advice from your local imam or scholar.
There is a range of rules associated with paying Zakat, particularly related to who is obligated to make a Zakat payment each year. The majority of these rules are outlined in the Holy Qur’an, which defines those who are qualified to pay Zakat as:
These rules are in place to ensure that only those who are capable of comfortably paying Zakat are obliged to.
Alongside the rules surrounding who is eligible to pay Zakat, there are also guidelines on who is eligible for zakat and who can benefit from the generosity of the Ummah. There are several groups of people who are eligible to receive Zakat donations, including:
At Orphans in Need, we will distribute your Zakat donations to the communities which need it most including vulnerable orphans who rely on external support to live safe, happy childhoods.
Zakat is only due when your wealth, which exceeds the Nisab threshold, has been held for a full Hawl (Islamic year). If your held assets or wealth fall below the Nisab threshold, traditionally, the Hawl period begins again once your wealth exceeds the Nisab limit, however, this differs between groups.
Zakat is calculated on the personal wealth amount held once the end of the Islamic year has been reached, although many communities choose to pay their Zakat during Ramadan when the anticipated rewards are greater.
Your held wealth and assets can fluctuate during the Hawl but should not fall below the Nisab threshold. It does not matter how much your wealth increases or decreases during the year, the Zakat is calculated on the held wealth at the end of the Islamic year. This is to maintain financial security and ensure that no-one is forced to pay Zakat on money which they no longer have and, in turn, put their financial stability at risk.
Some communities consider held wealth at the beginning and the end of the Hawl as the only definitive value, so, talk to your local scholar for further information on paying your Zakat if your held wealth fell below the Nisab value temporarily this year.
Zakat is not a fixed payment. Instead, Zakat is calculated as 2.5% of your held wealth and is determined on a range of assets including:
To summarise, Zakat is calculated on anything considered a liquid asset (can be readily converted in cash) minus your short-term liabilities such as:
For business owners, this may also include:
You should not include the value of your necessities such as the home or land that you are using to live as part of the liabilities or assets. Personal items including a car, clothing, appliances or anything required to live should also not be considered as part of your assets. Although, any second home or car should be used to calculate Zakat as these are considered above the basic lifestyle necessities.
There are different Zakat rates for farmers and those with precious resources on their land including:
To take the difficulty out of calculating your Zakat, Orphans in Need have provided an easy to use Zakat Calculator, follow the link below to work out your owed Zakat UK amount for this lunar year.
The many rules and guidelines surrounding Zakat can be confusing. Often, we receive queries surrounding these areas of uncertainty surrounding Zakat donations and, while we have tried to gather the relevant information, some madhabs (Islamic schools of thought) designate different rules. With this in mind, you should speak to your local imam or scholar.
Leveraging our knowledge, here are some answers to the most common Zakat rules questions we receive.
It is acceptable to pay Zakat in instalments, however, Orphans in Need accept Zakat as a single transaction. Paying Zakat in instalments is permitted but only with valid reasoning; therefore, if you have the means to donate your Zakat payment in a single transaction as quickly as possible, it should be completed this way. Despite this, if an individual cannot afford to pay in a lump sum, paying over a prolonged period of time is acceptable.
There are two schools of thought, one designates that only Muslims who have gone through puberty are expected to pay Zakat, however, some communities do expect Zakat when a children’s wealth exceeds the Nisab threshold. Note that there are further facets to this, with some stating that a specific number of months must have passed after puberty for them to become Zakat eligible. You should speak to your local scholar to confirm exactly what your next step should be.
Zakat is a personal obligation and must be calculated on individual wealth, however, with your spouse’s permission, your combined Zakat can be paid in a single transaction.
The rules of Zakat state that you must pay Zakat when your held wealth exceeds the Nisab threshold at the start and end of the Zakat year. You can pay Zakat in advance but must take into consideration any responsibilities or liabilities that could affect your quality of life.
Officially, your wealth should remain above the threshold limit throughout the year for Zakat to be due, however, there are schools of thought that believe your wealth should only be above the Nisab threshold at the beginning of the Zakat year (when your wealth first exceeded the Nisab threshold) and at the end of the Zakat year when payment is due.
Again, we advise that you speak to your local Imam or scholar to have this clarified further.
Yes, any held wealth in the Zakat year is Zakatable.
Yes, your Zakat is still due as it is the intention of paying Zakat which makes it count. The purpose of Zakat is not only to help those in need but to purify one’s wealth. The intent and desire to contribute is what acts as a catalyst for this purification.
You should calculate the amount of Zakat due at the end of each Zakat year to the best of your ability and make a payment that incorporates this year’s Zakat amount as well as any previous years or outstanding payments. This can be a lengthy process made easier through good bookkeeping. It’s advised to give yourself plenty of time to calculate your Zakat totals if you are in this situation.
Orphans in Need distributes your Zakat to the poor and needy. The poor are those who do not hold wealth greater than the Nisab threshold and the needy are defined as anyone living in extreme poverty and doesn’t have enough food to last a day. Through these guidelines, we can utilise your contributions to change the lives of those who are not only eligible to receive Zakat but need your support most.
Zakat cannot be paid to any family member that is already dependent on you, such as your children. Parents and children should never pay Zakat to each other, although, if another relative is poor or needy, they can be given your Zakat contribution.
Additionally, there are schools of thought which believe that a husband cannot pay Zakat to his wife but a wife can pay Zakat to her husband. Again, consult your local scholar for clarification on this.
The Zakat year does not have a fixed date and begins once your wealth has exceeded the Nisab threshold. The Zakat year is a full lunar year since reaching the minimum held wealth required to pay Zakat. Many choose to pay their Zakat during Ramadan both for the greater rewards offered and to ensure they complete their payment every year without forgetting.
Different schools of thought suggest using one over the other and you should talk to your local scholar or imam to clarify. Using the silver Nisab threshold value will provide a greater Zakat donation, allowing us to help more individuals in need and living in poverty.
Yes, any savings for Hajj or other causes should be included in your Zakat calculation.
Zakat is only paid on held wealth, also known as liquid assets. If you are currently paying into your pension fund but this is not held in a personal bank account that you have free access to, then it is not required to calculate Zakat.
Zakat ul-Fitr is not the same as Zakat. Also known as Fitrana, Zakat ul-Fitr is the contribution made on the festival of Eid ul-Fitr before morning prayers. Fitrana contributions equate to one saa’ of food per person, which is four times the amount of staple food (flour or rice) that can be held in two cupped hands (measured as one maad). Fitrana is normally given as a food donation; however, for convenience, Orphans in Need will use your monetary donation and distribute food to eligible individuals in need for you.
Orphans in Need are an official Zakat charity and will give Zakat donations to those in need on your behalf. Visit our Zakat calculator to work out how much you need to donate and pay Zakat online with us.
