Zakat In Ramadan

7 May, 2019 18:54 IST|Sakshi
Zakat

Zakat is not exactly charity but an obligation in Islam—one of the five pillars of the faith. A believing Muslim practises Zakat and thus recognises the fact that he has been blessed by Allah in many ways. Whatever he has belongs to Almighty Allah and he should always remember to help the less privileged ones, especially in the holy month of Ramadan. It is an exemplary practice, obligatory on Muslims.

Zakat is also a valve to liberate a Muslim from overweening greed and a way to practice self-discipline, apart from being a test of one’s honesty and integrity. The Quran has several references to alms for the poor and needy.

How does one calculate Zakat?

The individual in question must have a specific amount of wealth or savings, setting aside living costs and expenses. This is called Nisaab on which 2.5% Zakat becomes obligatory. While the passage of one lunar year (from the time that he came in possession of wealth/savings) makes Zakat obligatory on a Muslim, most people choose the holy month of Ramadan for Zakat. Muslims believe that Allah rewards them many times over for their good deeds in the holy month of Ramadan.

The Quran spells out eight clear categories of those who are deserving of Zakat, but two of these need to be highlighted as the most prominent kinds:

1. The poor and the indigent (al fuqara)

2. The needy in difficulty (al masakin)

Many Muslims reach out to the poor in their extended families by giving Zakat. The greatness of the ideal of Zakat lies in filling the heart of a Muslim with a sense of gratitude for what Almighty Allah has bestowed him with and the joy he derives from sharing it with the less privileged.

The noble ideal of Zakat which is one of the cornerstones of Islam, has the power to transform the Muslim community and the world at large, if practised with sincerity and integrity, many Islamic scholars observe

Also Read:Why Muslims Eat Dates In Ramadan

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