The 5 pillars of Islam include the Shahadah, day-to-day prayers (salah), fasting, charity (Zakat) and expedition (Hajj). It is valuable for Muslims to carry out such obligations particularly throughout the month of Ramadan. The rewards will be piled up Inn Shaa Allah and these will in return, prepare the course to Paradise in the afterlife.
With Ramadan now here, Muslims around the globe are preparing to give our annual Zakat. Calculating your Zakat and getting your head around the fundamentals can be sometimes tough and because of that, we have produced this brief guide. We have actually broken down a few of the most common questions and cleaned up the primary misunderstandings about Zakat.
So, today we are here to talk about Zakat (also referred to as ‘Zakah’). This is the third pillar of Islam and consists of providing of a set amount (2.5%) of your wealth to charity. Muslims pay Zakat as an act of praise, and although it is often related to a tax, it is not like taxes enforced by leaderships. Zakat is a spiritual task, merely for the sake of Allah.
The Arabic word ‘Zakat’ indicates ‘to clean’ or ‘purify’ and by accomplishing this religious task, Muslims make sure that their wealth has been cleansed for the will of Allah.
Zakat has numerous religious and worldly advantages. A Muslims faith (Iman) is that by paying Zakat they are doing Allah’s will and accepting that all of their fortune comes from Allah as a loan – they do not own anything themselves.
By executing Zakat, Muslims understand to work with sincerity and to place less significance on materialistic belongings. Zakat has to do with practicing self-control and freeing oneself from greediness, selfishness and the love of cash.
Every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty, is of sound mind, and you have possessed the minimum amount of wealth (known as Nisab) for one lunar year is required to pay Zakat.
‘You shall observe the Salah and give the obligatory charity (Zakat) and bow down with those who bow down.’ (Qur’an 2:43)
Our Prophet Muhammed (saw) has set the Nisab at the rate equal to 87.5 grams of gold or 612.4 grams of silver. Today, this is normally the similar value in your local currency. The value of gold and silver modifications daily, so your Zakat payment will differ a little each year. Scholars recommend that Muslims apply the Nisab value of silver rather than gold, to make sure that more people are eligible for Zakat.
If you’re a Muslim, it’s vital that every bit of your donation goes to those who need it most. By contributing to one of KORT’s Zakat eligible projects, we can guarantee that your donation is being utilized to combat hardship and make a change in the lives of the poor and defenceless.
Muslims are recommended to devote their final 10 nights in the month of Ramadan performing different acts of praise consisting of extra sunnah prayers, giving charity, devoting your nights at the masjid, and praying the Quran.
“Search for Laylatul Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
The Night of Power or Declaration (Laylatul Qadr) falls on among the last 10 nights of Ramadan. The specific time and date have been unknown to all Muslims, but we have always been told that it lands on the odd nights (21,23,25,27,29) however rewards for your kind deeds and prayers on this specific night will increase tremendously as said in the Quran.
In Surah al Qadr, ayats 3 to 5, Allah says, “The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the leave of their Lord, with every command; peace it is until the break of dawn.”
We must understand and realize that it is not about seeking the night but the Master of the night, which is Allah s.w.t. He will bless and reward us as He desires and pleases. We pray to Allah s.w.t. to enable us to reconcile these nights and capture the blessed Laylatul Qadr. Please pray for the staff of KORT and the volunteers. May Allah bless them and give them the ability to carry on with the amazing work of helping humankind.
