Zakaat- A pillar of Islam

Zakaat discussed: a pillar of Islam, evidences for it and how zakaat becomes obligatory on the grazing animal(camel)

Islam is a complete code of life to be followed in the light of the Quran & the Sunnah. From testifying what you believe in to having the correct intentions, Imaan is not complete until we do good deeds & fulfill the obligations. One of the pillars of Islam is to pay the Zakat & it is an obligation on every Muslim who fulfills the conditions. Allah(swt) has instructed us about paying Zakat & establishing the Salah together in 82 places in the Quran.[1]

Hadith of Angel Jibrael

Angel Jibrael said, “O Messenger of Allah tell me about Islam?” The Messenger(pbuh) said “Islam is to testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah & that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish the prayers to pay the zakat, to fast & to make the pilgrimage to the house.” The Angel said, “You have spoken truthfully.”[2]

Zakat

Zakat is the 3^rd pillar of Islam & it is an obligatory act. People who don’t believe in it to be wajib or being an obligation are disbelievers & those who refrain from paying it are to be fought.

Zakat is obligatory on every Free Muslim who has complete ownership of the nisaab.[3]

Allah(swt) says in the Quran:

“And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].”[4]

Zakat is obligatory on Muslims & not on non-muslims. It is means by which Muslims come closer to their Lord & to show their obedience. He must be free & not a slave & the property should be above a minimum level(Nisaab), the property must be settled & Zakaat is then obligatory on it when 1 lunar year has lapsed.

Zakat- An Obligation on Muslims

 Allaah’s Messenger told Mu‘aath ibn Jabal when he dispatched him to Yemen: “Indeed you will be going to a people from among the People of the Book. When you come to them, you should invite them to bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship besides Allah and thatMuhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they obey you in that, inform them that Allah has made obligatory on them five prayers in every day and night. If they obey you in that, inform them that  Allah has made obligatory on them charity to be taken from the rich among them and returned to the poor among them”[5]

Zakat has to be paid after ever lunar year lapses & the obligation is not fulfilled by paying it just once in your lifetime.

Allaah’s Messenger(pbuh) said, “He who  performs three things will have the taste of faith: One who worships Allah alone; one believes that there is no god but Allah; and one who pays Zakaah every year on his property…”[6]

Severity of Punishment for Non Payers of Zakat

Allah(swt) has commanded us to pay zakat & also warned us of the severity of the punishment for those who don’t pay it.

Allah’s Messenger(p) said “Every owner of treasure who doesn’t pay its  Zakaat, will have [his hoard] heated in the Hellfire and made into plates, then his sides and forehead will be burned with it until Allaah judges between His slaves on a Day equivalent to fifty thousand years. Then he will see his path leading to either Paradise or Hell.”[7]

Purpose

A Muslim comes closer to Allah(swt) with every good deed that he does. Zakat purifies the wealth & the soul. It allows a Muslim to share the material things that he possesses & releases him from the shackles of materialism, stinginess & miserliness.

One might feel that it decreases his wealth but Allah(swt) blesses it & will reward us manifold in the hereafter.

The Prophet(pbuh) said:

“The wealth does not decrease out of giving in charity.”[8]

“..and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah . It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah . Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”[9]

“..some who believe in Allah and the Last Day and consider what they spend as means of nearness to Allah and of [obtaining] invocations of the Messenger. Unquestionably, it is a means of nearness for them. Allah will admit them to His mercy. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”[10]

Grazing animals & Livestock

Zakah has been imposed by Allah(swt) on grazing animals & livestock. Livestock includes sheep, camels & cows. But there are conditions that have to be met for Zakah to be applicable:

Conditions

They must be used for producing milk, reproduction as their benefits multiply. They must not be used for toil. They must be grazing livestock that feed on herbage in a field or in a pastureland.[11] Zakah is not applicable on animals that are fed on fodder picked up or purchased most of the time in the year.

Zakah on Camels

If the above conditions are met then Zakah on camels has to be paid. There is no Zakat on them if they are less than 5. Below is a chart that will simplify on the amount to be paid as zakah on camels:

Number of Camels	Zakat to be paid
5-9 camels	1 sheep
10-14 camels	2 sheep
15-19 camels	3 sheep
20-24 camels	4 sheep
25-35 camels	1 yr old she camel or a 2 yr old male camel
36-45 camels	2 yr old she camel
46-60 camels	3 yr old she camel
61-75 camels	4 yr old she camel
76-90 camels	2 she camels both 2 yr old
91-120 camels	2 she camels both 3 yr old
>120	3 she camels both 2 yr old
After 120 onwards, on every 50	1 she camel 3 yr old
After 120 onwards, on every 40	1 she camel 2 yr old
200	4 she camels 3 yr old or 5 she camels 2 yr old

Whoever owes a camel of a certain age but cannot find it, should pay one age level less than it, plus two sheep or twenty dirhams; or if he prefers, he may pay one age level higher than it, and take two sheep or twenty dirhams.

Joint Ownership

If a group of people share the same nisaab (Zakat threshold) of free-grazing, domesticated livestock for an entire Islamic (lunar) year, and their fields for pasture, studs, barns, milk-houses, and water holes are the same, then the decision of their Zakat is as if they were one man. If one of them pays the obligation from his property, the others should reimburse him according to their share, and joint property has no effect except on free-grazing, domesticated livestock.[12]

Conclusion

As a Muslim we must understand that it is important to be prompt with our Zakat payments & we must calculate it correctly. Zakat is obligatory after every year passes by & if Zakat is due from the previous years then we must repent to Allah(swt) & pay this due as soon as possible. May Allah(swt) give us the ability to fulfill all the faraiz & wajibaat, ameen.

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[1]  (Fawzan)

[2]  (Zarabozo)

[3]  (Maqdisi)

[4]  (International)

[5]  (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 333-4, no. 573)

[6]  (Sunan Abu Dawud, vol. 2, p. 413, no. 1577)

[7]  (Sahih Muslim, vol. 2, p. 472, no. 2163)

[8]  (Fawzan D. S.)

[9]  (International, www.Quran.com, (73:20))

[10]  (International, www.Quran.com, (9:99))

[11]  (Fawzan D. S.)

[12]  (Maqdisi M. Q.)