Zakat

• Shahada ( Confession)
• Salat (prayer )
• Zakat ( alms tax )
• Hem ( fasting)
• Hajj ( Pilgrimage)

The Zakat ( زكاة Arabic, zakaah DMG, purity, integrity, growth ') is obligatory for Muslims delivery of a specified proportion of their possessions to the needy and other specified groups of people. It forms one of the five pillars of Islam.

In addition to the term Zakat sometimes the term is Sadaqa ( صدقة / sadaqa ) is used, but mainly refers to a voluntary offering, in contrast to the compulsory Zakat. According to Muslim commentators statutory levy for the benefit of the Muslims must be used during a voluntary alms may also be given to non -Muslims.

Statements in the Quran

The Zakat as " purification gift" has its origins in the Koran. Already in the earliest suras the faithful are advised to purify by almsgiving ( see Sura 92:18 ) and a portion of its assets to give the petitioner and have nots ( see Sura 70:24 f). The Arabic word Zakat itself comes in the Quran 32 times before, and exclusively in the Medinan period. So it is, addressed to the Muslims, for example, in Sura 9:11 that those who repent, do the salad and pay the Zakat, " your brothers " are. Salad and Zakat are repeatedly juxtaposed mentioned as indicator for the conversion to Islam, including in the so-called Schwertvers (Sura 9:5 ), where it says: "But if they repent and keep up prayer and give the Zakat, then let her path moving! "

Sura 9 is one of the late suras of the Koran, which were revealed in the aftermath of 630. The show cited Koran verses that had already taken place institutionalization of alms-giving at this time. This is consistent with the reports in the Islamic tradition according to which in the year 630 the first agent to the different Arab tribes were sent that there einsammelten the Zakat.

Zakat in Islamic law

Zakat - charge are according to Islamic law, livestock, crops, precious metals and commodities. The Zakat duty, however, occurs only when a certain minimum value, called the nisab is reached. In sheep and goats the nisab is for example forty head of cattle. The amount of Zakat is per fiscal year, 2.5 percent of the value of the goods concerned.

For the question of distribution of Zakat a passage from Sura 9 is fundamental in not of Zakat is mentioned, but of Sadaqa, but this was understood by the jurists as equivalent. Here it is:

" The alms ( Sadaqat ) are only for the poor and needy (determined ), ( also for ) those who have to do with it, ( for ) those who are to be obtained (for the cause of Islam ) (literally: those that made their heart trusts ), for ( the ransoming of ) slaves, ( for ) those who are in debt for the way of God and the son of the road. ( This is ) an obligation on the part of God. Allah is Knowing, Wise. "

From this passage, it was concluded that there are a total of eight different groups of those entitled to receive for Zakat: 1 arms; 2 needy; 3 those who collect Zakat; 4 persons who are to be thus won for Islam; 5 slaves; 6 -inflicted; 7 jihad fighters and 8 travelers.

A special form of Zakat Zakat al - fitr is the ( " Zakat Fitr "), which is associated with the festival of breaking the fast. It consists of a gift of staple foods (cereals, dates, raisins, dairy products, rice) in the volume of two to three liters, and is responsible for all male and female Muslims, they, however, not only for themselves, but for all people, for by have them are financially dependent to apply. The Zakat al - fitr should be paid at the end of the month of Ramadan, but is also allowed to pay in the earlier days of Ramadan. Even more than in the ordinary Zakat Zakat plays in the al - fitr, the idea of ​​cleansing from sin an important role. The Zakat al - fitr has its basis not in the Quran but in the Hadith but Quran verses are cited to justify it (especially Surah 87:14: " Successful indeed are the persons who consider themselves pure" ).

Zakat in the presence

Since about the end of the Second World War, attempts are made to formulate the conditions of Zakat new or adapting the current conditions. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, Rashid Rida had suggested 60 to apply the term slave in Sura 9, not only on individuals but on whole societies, which had been enslaved by the colonization. Furthermore, it is with " those who have followed the path of God," not meant an armed jihad, but this form of Zakat must go to those who try to introduce Islam by means of convincing arguments again.

Timur Kuran explains in his book " Islam and Mammon " that only a few states such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Pakistan to collect the tax state. For the other Islamic countries Zakat is defined as voluntary surrender. However, the definition of Zakat corresponds most nor the Koran, speak to the 7th century: Many occupations are excluded from it, but especially the poorer sectors be prosecuted. So, for example, draws the state Zakat Malaysia especially among the rice farmers, who mostly live below the poverty line. But in return, they receive hardly disbursements of arms control, since only a small percentage of the poor goes, while the majority in the - hangs administration or goes to religious institutions - partly corrupt.

In Indonesia, a semi -governmental agency for the collection and distribution of Zakat was created in 1968, the Badan Amil Zakat (BAZ ), the 1973 in addition to its responsibility for other religious donations ( Infaq, Sadaqa ) Badan Amil Zakat in, Infaq dan Sadaqa ( BAZIS ) has been renamed. Also, the payment of Zakat al - fitr is handled by this institution.

More recently, indications are reinforced suspected that the Zakat partly in support of Islamic militants groups and their families is used in intelligence circles.