💰 Zakat Is Obligatory on the Following Types of Wealth When the Owner Is Legally Responsible
✍️ By: Imran Ayub Lahori
❖ Linguistic Definition of Zakat
The word Zakat in the Arabic language implies:
➤ Growth (بڑھنا)
➤ Purification (پاکیزگی)
➤ Blessing and flourishing of wealth
It appears in three verbal forms:
زَكَى يَزْكُو (nasr pattern),
زَكَّى يُزَكِّي (tafeel), and
تَزَكَّى يَتَزَكَّى (tafaʿʿul)
📚 [Al-Munjid: p. 339, Al-Qāmūs al-Muḥīṭ: p. 1163, Sabil al-Salam: 2/787]
Zakat is named so because it increases wealth. Allah ﷻ says:
“وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ“
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 276)
“Allah increases the charity.”
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
“ما نقصت صدقة من مال“
“Charity does not decrease wealth.”
📚 [Muslim: 2588, Ahmad: 2/235, Ibn Khuzaymah: 2438, Tirmidhi: 2029]
Zakat purifies both the wealth and the soul of the giver—from miserliness and sins. Both meanings are found in the verse:
“خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا“
(Surah At-Tawbah: 103)
“Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them to grow…”
❖ Other Qur’anic Usages of “Zakat” as Purification
➊ “قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا“
(Ash-Shams: 9)
“Successful is he who purifies it (his soul).”
➋ “قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى“
(Al-A‘la: 14)
“Indeed, he succeeds who purifies himself.”
➌ “فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ“
(An-Najm: 32)
“Do not claim purity for yourselves.”
❖ Shar‘i (Legal) Definition of Zakat
Zakat is:
“A right due on wealth, made obligatory to be paid to a specific group (like the poor), unless a Shar‘i barrier exists.”
📚 [Al-Fiqh al-Islāmī wa Adillatuhu: 3/1788, Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/67, Al-Mughnī: 2/572, Kashshāf al-Qināʿ: 2/191, Al-Lubāb: 1/139, Marāqī al-Falāḥ: p. 121, Al-Durr al-Mukhtār: 2/2]
“ما أخرجته من مالك لتطهره به“
“What you take out from your wealth to purify it is Zakat.”
📚 [Al-Qāmūs al-Muḥīṭ: p. 1163]
❖ When Was Zakat Made Obligatory?
There is scholarly difference regarding the exact time of its obligation:
- Majority view: Zakat was made obligatory in 2 AH, before Ramadan was made obligatory.
- Others: It was obligated in Makkah, but detailed rulings were revealed in 2 AH in Madinah.
📚 [Fatḥ al-Bārī: 4/9–10, Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/67, Fiqh al-Zakāh (Qaradawi): 1/58]
❖ The Wisdom Behind the Obligation of Zakat
➊ To purify and bless the wealth
➋ To support the poor and needy
➌ To protect the soul from miserliness and sin
➍ To fulfill the obligation of gratitude for the blessing of wealth
📚 [Al-Fiqh al-Islāmī wa Adillatuhu: 3/1790]
❖ Evidences of the Obligation of Zakat
➊ “وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ“
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 43)
“Establish prayer and give Zakat.”
➋ “خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً“
(Surah At-Tawbah: 103)
“Take from their wealth a charity…”
➌ “وَآتُوا حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ“
(Surah Al-An‘ām: 141)
“Give its due on the day of harvest…”
❖ Key Prophetic Reports
➍ Hadith of Muʿādh (رضي الله عنه):
“Allah has made charity obligatory in their wealth…”
📚 [Bukhari: 1395, Muslim: 19, Abu Dawud: 1548, Tirmidhi: 261]
➎ Written Instruction of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه):
“This is the obligation of Zakat which Allah’s Messenger has made obligatory upon Muslims.”
📚 [Bukhari: 1454, Abu Dawud: 1567, Nasa’i: 2447]
➏ Islam Built on Five Pillars:
“Islam is built on five: … giving Zakat…”
📚 [Bukhari: 8]
➐ Hadith of Jareer (رضي الله عنه):
“I pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ on establishing prayer, paying Zakat, and sincere counsel to every Muslim.”
📚 [Bukhari: 1401]
❖ Scholarly Consensus (Ijma‘)
There is unanimous agreement among the Muslim Ummah on the obligation of Zakat.
📚 [Al-Fiqh al-Islāmī wa Adillatuhu: 3/1792]
❖ Conclusion
◈ Zakat is a divine obligation and a pillar of Islam.
◈ It is due on various types of wealth (gold, silver, trade goods, livestock, crops, etc.) when the owner is a legally responsible Muslim (i.e., mukallaf).
◈ Zakat purifies wealth and soul, supports the needy, and reflects gratitude for Allah’s blessings.
◈ Withholding Zakat is a major sin with severe consequences, as emphasized by the Qur’an, Sunnah, and scholarly consensus.
