Answered by Sidi Salman Younas
ا have few more questions regarding Zakat. First, can zakat be made to islamic movements or political parties that is striving for islam through democratic system? Second, Does zakat need to made monthly which is deducting 2.5% from our salaries and allowances evry month? certain countries implement this, can you please comment on it.
Salamu `alaykum
I pray you are well and in the best of health.
(1) The formal legal definition of zakah is:
“Transferring ownership of an amount of material wealth specified by the Lawgiver to a poor Muslim who is not Hashimi nor their client, without material benefit returning to the giver, for the sake of Allah Most High.” (Tumurtashi, Tanwir al Absar)
“To a poor Muslim” refers to an individual. This is clear from the Qur’anic verse on the issue that makes mention of the categories of people to whom zakah can be given. Allah Most High states:
“Zakah is for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.” (Tawbah: 60)
One of these categories is “fi sabil Allah” (in the cause of Allah) and this also refers to individuals in the way of Allah, since the categories that come before all relate to individuals. It is logically inconsistent to stipulate giving one’s zakah to individuals and then following it up with “those in the way of Allah” as a reference including institutions or groups – rather anything and everything -, which effectively negates the relevancy of the individual categories mentioned prior. Giving to mosques or other organizations is, therefore, not valid, unless they act as agents through which zakah is distributed to individuals.
(2) One of the conditions that need to be met for the requirement to pay zakah is the passing of a zakah year. One’s zakah year starts when he/she possesses the minimal zakatable amount (nisab). The zakah is then due upon the amount one has one lunar year after that.
The SunniPath Q&A (www.qa.sunnipath.com) has a number of answers relating to the fiqh of zakah.
And Allah Knows Best
Wasalam
Salman Younas
Approved by Faraz Rabbani