Zakat: what it is, who it applies to, and where it goes

1A pillar, not a donation

The Qur'an repeatedly pairs prayer with zakat: 'And establish prayer and give zakat' (Qur'an 2:43). Zakat is an obligatory act of worship on wealth — distinct from voluntary charity (sadaqah). Scholars describe its purpose as purifying both the wealth and the giver, and redistributing means across the community.

2Who it applies to

Zakat is due on wealth that reaches the nisab threshold and is held for a full lunar year, most commonly at 2.5% for cash and trade goods (rates differ by asset type). Nisab is traditionally measured against gold or silver, and scholars differ on which benchmark to use for modern currencies — in practice, Muslims follow their local authority or a trusted scholar for the current threshold.

3Where it goes

The Qur'an names eight categories of recipients: the poor, the needy, those employed to administer it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, the enslaved, the indebted, in the cause of Allah, and the wayfarer (Qur'an 9:60). Schools differ on details of implementation, but the categories come from the text itself.

4Giving well

'O you who believe, spend from the good things you have earned' (Qur'an 2:267). Scholars advise calculating carefully, giving privately where that is kinder, and verifying that zakat reaches legitimate recipients. Local mosques and zakat charities offer calculation guidance and secure channels.

Names of Allah in this article