The New Nation - Internet Edition

The payment of Zakat is compulsory and it is directly linked with the poor people for their economic emancipation. It checks concentration of wealth and ensures proper distribution. It is an obligation on any wealthy person-free, adult and sane.

The following are the categories of acquired property subject to Zakat : gold and silver. jewellery, cash, bank savings. cows, bulls, goats, buffaloes, sheep, horses, camels, buried treasures, articles of merchandise and produces of the earth.

Zakat is to be paid at the rate of 2.50 per cent on savings once in a year. Zakat is payable on our produces while it is more than 26 maunds and on our gold and silver, when it is more than 7.50 tolas and 52.50 tolas respectively and also on other assets.

Allah warns the believers : "Those who treasure up gold and silver, and do not spend them in the way of Allah, give them the tidings of painful chastisement, the day this (wealth) shall be heated in the fire of hell, and their foreheads, their sides and their backs shall be branded with it. (It will be said to them) This is what you had treasured up for yourselves, now taste of what you were treasuring." (9:34-35).

Now, the question is, who are entitled to receive Zakat ?

The Holy Quran says, Zakat is due : "Alms are of the poor (miskin) and the needy (faqir), 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." (9:60)

Allama Yusuf Ali in the 'Holy Quran : Translation and Commentary' comments after explaining the different heads : "All these have a claim to charity. They should be relieved by individual or organised effort, but in a responsible way."

-Abdul Muqit Chowdhury