What is Zakat? A Modern Guide for Givers and Committees
Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. Here is a practical primer on what it is, who pays it, and who receives it.
Zakat is the obligatory annual giving of a fixed portion of a Muslim's qualifying wealth to those entitled to receive it. Unlike voluntary charity (sadaqah), zakat has defined thresholds, rates, and recipient categories prescribed in the Qur'an.
Who pays zakat?
Any adult Muslim whose wealth exceeds the nisab threshold for a full lunar year (hawl) is obligated to pay zakat. Nisab is typically calculated against the value of 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver.
Who receives zakat?
The Qur'an (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:60) names eight categories of recipients: the poor, the needy, the administrators of zakat, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, those in bondage, the debt-ridden, those in the path of Allah, and the wayfarer.
Why systems matter
When zakat is collected and distributed at scale — by mosques, committees, or charities — clear systems become essential. Records protect both donors and recipients, and they uphold the trust at the heart of the obligation.
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