Who is Eligible for Zakat?

In Islam, there are what is called the five pillars of Islam which is Zakat is one of them, and they are:

• Shahada – the act of declaring your devotion and belief in Allah (SWT) and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
• Salat – the act of praying five times a day
• Zakat – the act of giving charity
• Sawm – the act of fasting during the sacred month of Ramadan
• Hajj – the act of undertaking the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once

Zakah is obligatory for every capable Muslim that is given out every year, and it has many rewards for us. But can we give it to anyone or are certain people eligible for zakat? Well, let’s find out.

What is Zakat?

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam that is obligatory for every capable Muslim. It’s a fixed percentage calculated from the person’s total savings (which is 2.5%) and is paid only one time a year. Only some people are eligible for Zakat and they are those who are mentioned in the holy Quran, as Allah said:

“Sadaqah (i.e. Zakat) is for the poor, the needy, those employed to administer [the funds], those whose hearts have been reconciled [to the truth], for those in slavery, those in debt, in the cause of Allah and for the wayfarer; [thus it has been] ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.” [Surah Al-Taubah: 60]

Hence Zakah is given to:

• The poor
• The Hungry
• Those responsible for distributing zakat
• Those in captivity and slavery
• Those living with unmanageable debt
• Those who fight in the name of Allah
• Stranded or struggling travelers
• New Muslims and friends of Muslim communities

 

What is the difference between Zakat and Sadaqah?

The difference between zakat and sadaqah is that Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam that is obligatory upon every capable Muslim and it is paid every year. Sadaqah on the other hand is a voluntary act. You will be rewarded for both of them, and they are both considered charity.

Furthermore, Zakah is given one time a year to certain people and it is an amount calculated based on the person’s total savings and is given one time a year. In contrast, Sadaqat can be given to anyone and of any amount at any time of the year.

Who is eligible for Zakat?

We can clearly understand who is eligible for zakat from the following verse from the Holy Quran:

“Sadaqah (i.e. Zakat) is for the poor, the needy, those employed to administer [the funds], those whose hearts have been reconciled [to the truth], for those in slavery, those in debt, in the cause of Allah and for the wayfarer; [thus it has been] ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.” [Surah Al-Taubah: 60]

From this, we can conclude that the people who we should give zakat to are:

• Al-Fuqara: The Poor
• Al-Masakin: The Needy
• Al-‘Amilina ‘Alayha: Administrators of Zakat
• Al-Mu’allafati-Qulubuhum: Reconciliation of Hearts
• Fir-Riqab: For those in Bondage
• Al-Gharimin: Those in Debt
• Fi-Sabilillah: In the Cause of Allah
• Ibnas-Sabil: The Wayfarer

Who is not eligible for Zakat?

The people eligible for zakat are, The Poor, The Needy, Administrators of Zakat, Reconciliation of Hearts, For those in Bondage, Those in Debt, In the Cause of Allah, and The Wayfarer. Anyone else is not eligible for Zakat but you can give Sadaqah to anyone in need.

How often is Zakat paid?

Zakat is paid one time a year and it is obligatory for every capable Muslim who has wealth over a certain amount called Nisab and is calculated as 2.5% of the person’s total savings.

 

When to pay Zakat?

Muslims pay Zakah when their wealth reaches the Nisab, therefore there is no specific time to pay the zakat, but it is paid one time a year to people who are eligible for Zakat. 

What is Nisab’s value? The value of Nisab varies every year because it is related to the value of gold and silver, which is 612.36g of silver or 87.48g of gold as mentioned in the Holy Quran. To know the Nisab value convert the weight of the gold or silver into your local currency. 

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