Punishments for NOT Paying
ZAKAT
WHAT IS ZAKAH?
Zakah is an obligatory form of
"charity" expected from every Muslim individual. Zakat can be defined as that
portion of a man's
wealth which is designated for the poor. The term is derived from the Arabic
verbal root meaning to increase, to purify, and to bless. "Take Sadaqah from
their
property in order to purify and sanctify them" (Al-Quran
9:103)
It refers to the purification of a
Muslim's wealth and soul. To "purify" is to purify them from the
faults of stinginess, greed and meanness, and lack of remorse towards the
needy, and other similar depravities.
"Zakat is for the poor, and the needy and those who are employed to
administer and collect it, and the new converts, and for those
who are in bondage, and in debt and service of the cause of
Allah, and for the wayfarers, a duty ordained by Allah, and Allah
is the All-Knowing, the Wise". At Taubah 9: 60
BENEFITS OF ZAKAT
Zakat is for the welfare of the unprivileged and establishes
a society on a humanitarian ground. Zakat also purifies the heart of the
recipient from jealousy and hatred toward those who are wealthy in the material
sense. Zakat also purifies his heart from selfishness and greed for wealth and
is an essential element in attaining mutual love, cooperation, and solidarity
among members of Moslem society.
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
"He who discharges Zakah of his property, his sins shall leave him."
“The
parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a
grain of corn; it grows seven ears and each ear has a hundred grain. Allah
gives manifold increase to whom he pleases.” (2:26)
In the above verse 2:26, Allah has promised that He will
repay hundred fold in the hereafter what a believer spent in the way of Allah.
THE NISAAB (Minimum ‘Zakatable’ Income)
The Nisaab is defined as the minimum wealth that one must hold for one year, at
the end of which Zakat is payable. The Nisaab of gold is three ounces or about
85 grams of pure gold and of silver is 596 grams of pure silver (Equivalent to
$220). All Muslims
(minor or adult) with a set minimum level of income and assets are expected to
pay Zakat of at least 2.5%.
TYPES OF ZAKAH
1. ZAKAH ON BUSINESS (URAD AL TIJARAH)
In this context, business refers to
any form of trading activity that generates income (i.e. Buying and selling,
for the
sake of profit e.g. foodstuffs, furniture, animals, land, etc).
Anyone who owns a business with a minimum working capital (Stock and Cash) of
$220 must pay Zakat.
Formula: 2.5% x [(Current Assets - Current Liabilities)
2. ZAKAH ON RENTAL INCOME (Annual collection exceeding $220)
Formula:
2.5% x [Total Annual Rental Revenue - Rental Expenses]
3. ZAKAT ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
Zakah On Agriculture Is Due Upon Each Harvest If It
Is Equal To 2 Wasq (A Measure That’s Equal To 653 Kg).
Zakat is payable on all agricultural produce including
fruits, commercially grown flowers, vegetables and all types of grains at the
time of harvest itself. The Zakat levy on the agricultural produce
varies according to the way the land is irrigated.
a)
The Zakat is 10% of the land produce if the land is irrigated by streams,
rivers (running water) or rainfall (without human effort).
b) The Zakat is 5% of the land produce if the land is irrigated by wells
(or by artificial canal systems, tank water or bore well and open well) There
is no deduction out of this on any account.
c) For crops dependent partly on rain water and partly on other water
(Irrigation), the Zakat applicable would be 7.5% of produce.
4. ZAKAH ON PERSONAL INCOME (e.g. SALARY)
In this context, personal income
refers to the salary/wages, commissions, allowances, bonuses and monetary gifts
earned by a zakah payer through permissible (halal) activities.
Zakat is payable When the total annual salary (i.e. salary per month multiplied
by 12
months) earned by an individual is equal or more than $220
Formula:
2.5%
x [Total Salary for the Year + Any Other Income/allowances]
Narrated 'Abdullah: The Prophet said, "Who among you considers the wealth of
his heirs dearer to him
than his own wealth?" They replied, "O
Allah's Apostle! There is none among us but loves his own wealth more." The
Prophet said, "So his wealth is whatever he spends (in Allah's Cause)
during his life (on good deeds) while the wealth of his heirs is
whatever he leaves after his death."
5. ZAKAT ON ANIMALS:
Goats and Sheep
Up to 39 Goats/Sheep=No Zakat
>From 40 to 120 Goats/Sheep=1 goat
>From 121 to 200 Goats/Sheep=2 goats
>From 201 to 300 Goats/Sheep=3 goats
Thereafter
300 on 1 goat for
each 100 Goats/Sheep
Cows and Oxen
Up to 29 cows= No
Zakat
>From 30 to 39 cows=1 one-year-old male or female
>calf.
>From 40 to 59 cows =1 two-year-old male or
>female
>From 60 to 69 cows =2 one-year-old male or
>female
>From 70 to 79 cows =1 one-year-old and 1 two-year-old male or female
>
>From 80 to 89 cows =2 two-year-old male or
>female
>From 90 to 99 cows =3 one-year-old male or
>female
>From 100 to 109 cows =1 two-year-old male or
>female
>From 110 to 119 cows =2 two-year and 1 one-year-old male or female
>
>From 120 to 129 cows =3 two-year-old or 4 one-year-old male or female
Thereafter 130 on: 1 one-year-old for each 30 or 1 two-year-old
for each 40.
Please
Note:
· The person who owns different types
of wealth e.g. animals, commercial goods and gold and silver must give Zakat on
each category of wealth separately.
· Zakat must be given in kind, that
is, if one’s wealth is in cattle, one must pay in cattle rather than their
equivalent in money;
· Items of everyday use which are not
meant for trade, such as household utensil, clothes; tools and machinery used
for further
production or business operation, and animals used in agriculture are not
Zakatable
WHERE SHOULD ONE PAY HIS ZAKAT?
Zakat can be paid at the mosque near you so the mosque
committee or the Imaam can distribute it to the poor and needy that are
entitled to get it. You can also give it to any Reputable Muslim Charitable
Organizations of your choice.
Please Also Note: A Muslim’s primary responsibility
is to pay the Zakat, not to supervise how it is spent. Refusal to pay the Zakat
for fear of it being misappropriated is punishable by Allah as indicated below.
PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE WHO REFUSE TO PAY ZAKAT?
Allah (The Glorified and the
Exalted) has strongly warned those who are negligent in the fulfillment of
these duties. Thus He said, "Those who hoard up treasures of gold and
silver and spend them not in the way of Allah; give them the news of a painful
punishment, on the Day when that (wealth) will be heated in the Fire of Hell
and with it will be branded their forehead, their sides, and their backs, (and
it will be said to them:) 'This is the treasure which you hoarded for
yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard.'" [Al-Quran 9:34-35]
'Let not those who are miserly with
what God has given them of His bounty think that this is good for them. Rather,
it is bad for them. That which they withhold shall be hung around their necks
on the Day of Arising.' [Al-Quran 3:180]
Further, At-Tabarani relates, on the
authority of 'Ali, that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Allah has enjoined
upon rich Muslims a due to be taken from their properties corresponding to the
needs of the poor among them. The poor will never suffer from
starvation or lack of clothes unless the rich neglect their due. If they do,
Allah will surely hold them accountable and punish them severely." (Related
by At-Tabarani in Al-'Aswat and as-Saghir).
TO SAVE MUSLIMS FROM THESE PUNISHMENTS
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