The purpose of Zakat is ultimately to increase faith and devotion to Allah (God). It also acts as a social safety net for those in need and a means to uplift the entire community and help Muslims and Islam thrive. Zakat is a pillar of Islam and as such it works together with the other four pillars as a way of upholding and strengthening the religion.

By giving Zakat Muslims cleanse their own wealth. Zakat helps to keep the economy flowing by freeing people from burden and giving them the chance to reach their potential.

Zakat, when it works properly, should have a long-term impact for the state of the whole Muslim community.

Anyone who’s a Muslim, adult (has reached puberty) and is sane, is expected to give Zakat if they have the minimum amount of wealth, which is known as the Nisab. 

The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and for those employed in connection therewith, and for those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and for the freeing of slaves, and for those in debt, and for the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer — an ordinance from Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, Wise. [Qur’an, Chapter 9, Verse 60]

The Qur’an tells us eight groups of people who should be given Zakat:

“Indeed, Zakat expenditures are only for:

1. The poor (al-fuqarâ’), meaning low-income or indigent

2. The needy (al-masâkîn), meaning someone who is in difficulty

3. Zakat administrators

4. Those whose hearts are to be reconciled, meaning new Muslims and friends of the Muslim community

5. Those in bondage (slaves and captives)

6. The debt-ridden

7. In the cause of God

8. The wayfarer, meaning those who are stranded or traveling with few resources

[This is] an obligation from God. God is All-Knowing,
All-Wise.”

When to pay Zakat?

Zakat due date explained.
Your Zakat year should begin on the date your wealth equals or surpasses the Nisab.

• If your wealth equals or surpasses the Nisab after one lunar year has passed (also known as Hawl), then Zakat will be payable. In this instance, you will use this date again for the following year.

• If your wealth did not equal the Nisab after one year, then you will not have to pay Zakat. Furthermore, you will wait to see when your wealth equals or surpasses Nisab.

Your Zakat due date
The moment your wealth equals or surpasses Nisab, that will initiate a new year for Zakat. You will then see a year after this new date whether your wealth equals to or surpasses the Nisab. This is referred to as your ‘Zakat due date’ or ‘Zakat anniversary’ on this website.

Zakat is due immediately upon your Zakat anniversary. If you’re not sure when this is or you’re paying for the first time, simply work out the day you first owned wealth over and above the Nisab threshold (if you don’t know the exact date you can estimate). Once you’ve paid your Zakat once this then becomes your Zakat anniversary.

Zakat can be pre-paid before your Zakat anniversary. This is to encourage people to increase in worship and make the most of blessed times like Ramadan or the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. If you do pay early, you still need to work out your Zakat due on your Zakat anniversary to make sure you’ve paid the right amount.

Do I have to pay Zakat in Ramadan?
Paying Zakat in Ramadan is not necessary, although giving charity in this month guarantees greater rewards.