As part of Zakat Awareness Week, we wanted to share some interesting facts about Zakat.
Did you know…
• Zakat is the third pillar of Islam, its regular payment being the single most important act in the life of a Muslim after the five daily prayers.
• Zakat is not something that the poor are gifted – Zakat is their right and it has been ordained as such by the Most High – Allah.
• Zakat amounts have been specified; it is not up to the individual to deduce how much he or she can spare to give.
• Zakat is intended to enable the poor to become self-sufficient. This is the wider aim and concept. It is not meant to be a temporary solution.
• The majority of the scholars of Islam agree that when one intends to pay Zakat, then priority should be given to one’s own neighbourhood. This is based largely on the Prophetic tradition, narrated by Ibn Abbas as follows, ‘When the Prophet sent Mu’adh to Yemen, he said to him, “You are going to a nation from the people of the Scripture…tell them that Allah has enjoined on them Zakat of their properties and it is to be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor among them…”’ The Prophet specifically instructed his companion Mu’adh to distribute the Zakat of Yemen within Yemen, not to send it anywhere else.
● Easy to use, colour coded Zakat guide
