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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.
Zakat, also known as Zakah, is the Third Pillar of Islam and means ‘to purify’ your wealth in the name of Allah (SWT).
Charity in Islam is important, and there are many different obligations to follow, some of which may get confusing. Understanding the Zakat rules in Islam is an important step towards becoming a good Muslim. Sometimes, Zakat gets muddled up with Zakat al-Fitr, but they are different.
Zakat al-Fitr – also known as Fitrana – is a compulsory donation (traditionally food, now more so a monetary donation to a charity that distributes food on your behalf) made before Eid.
Zakat is an obligatory 2.5% donation all able Muslims make on their excess wealth to help those less fortunate and in need of assistance. If you’re wondering, “can we give Zakat before Ramadan?” the answer is yes, you can. The Zakat rules for cash and gold mean that it is not specific to a certain event or time of the year, although often it is given in the last 10 days of Ramadan as it is believed the rewards for giving are greatest at this time of year.
Through giving Zakat, the divide between the poor and rich is lessened, and Muslims are reminded that being wealthy is not everything and that Allah (SWT) – whilst He can bless us with wealth – can take our fortune away. Through Zakat, we are able to become better Muslims.
According to Zakat rules, in order for your charitable donation to be counted as Zakat, you must donate it with the clear intention of it being for Zakat. If you donate to charity but do not do so specifically in the name of Zakat, it will not count as a Zakat payment.
Orphans in Need is a charity authorised to distribute Zakat. When paying your Zakat through Orphans in Need, you can rest assured that you are meeting all your obligations according to Zakat rules. We will use your Zakat to help vulnerable orphans and widows. Every little helps; as little as £360 can clothe, feed, shelter, educate and provide healthcare for an orphan in need.
Calculate and pay your Zakat here to help a child or a widow in need
There are eight categories listed in the Qur’an as being eligible to receive Zakat, and they are as follows:
Simply put, those outside of these eight groups are not able to receive Zakat, but there are other Zakat rules, too. For clarity, here are some of the most frequently asked Zakat questions and their answers.
If your husband fits into one of the eight categories above, e.g., he is in debt, you may pay your Zakat to him.
No, you can’t give Zakat to your wife because you are obligated to provide for her, irrespective of Zakat.
You cannot give Zakat to your parents because as you transcend into adulthood, you have a duty to look after your parents.
In the same way, children cannot give Zakat to their parents, parents cannot give Zakat to their children because they are their dependents and therefore have a duty to provide for them.
Yes, it is possible for you to give Zakat to your aunt or uncle because they are not immediate family and have no obligation to support you, but they must fit it into one of the eight categories.
Your siblings do not depend on you financially, so it is possible for you to give Zakat to them, provided they are eligible.
Those with the name Syed are descendants of the Prophet (PBUH) and so, as per the Qur’an, cannot receive Zakat. If a Syed is in difficulty, you are permitted to give them a gift, but you cannot do so in the name of Zakat.
You can give your Zakat to a non-Muslim as long as they are eligible per the eight categories in the Qur’an and are not involved in fighting Muslims or forcing them out of their homes.
No, it is not permitted to give Zakat to build any type of building because it is not listed in the eight categories in the Qur’an.
Not every Muslim will be qualified to pay Zakat. First, you must be:
Zakat Rules for Gold and Cash
Zakat rules dictate that your wealth must exceed the nisab threshold after your monthly bills have been deducted. Nisab is calculated to the current market value of 612.36g of silver or 87.48g of gold. You must hold your wealth for a full Islamic year (Hawl) before you are required to pay Zakat. If you start the year above the nisab threshold and finish it above the nisab threshold, but your wealth drops below the nisab threshold during the year, you are still eligible to pay Zakat.
Your wealth that is counted towards your zakat contribution includes:
If you do not meet the nisab threshold or cannot hold it for a full Islamic year, you are not required to pay Zakat.
According to Zakat rules, the amount is charged at a rate of 2.5%. This means you should donate 2.5% of your wealth, which exceeds the nisab value. If you’re struggling to work out how much Zakat you need to pay, use our zakat calculator.
If you don’t exceed the nisab value, you need not pay.
