What is Zakat?

Zakat linguistically means purification. Technically, zakat means the purification of one's possessed wealth by distributing a prescribed amount to those not obligated to pay zakat. Zakat is one of the five fardh [obligatory] pillars or duties of al Islam.  Once a believer finds him or herself in a position to fulfill an obligatory act he or she becomes duty bound to gain as much knowledge as is necessary to perform this act of worship.  Zakat is one such act of worship whose reward is with Allahu ta ‘ala.  Allahu ta ‘ala mentions together the establishment of salaah and the paying of zakat in no less than seventy places in Holy Qur’an Majid. To intentionally reject the paying of zakat when it becomes due, is to place oneself outside the pale of al Islam.

  Allah says in the Holy Qur’an Majid:

And there are those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, announce to them a most grievous penalty (when) on the Day of Judgment heat will be produced out of that wealth in the fire of Hell. Then with it they will be branded on their forehead and their flanks and backs. (It will be said to them) This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves, taste then the treasure that you have been hoarding. [9:34-35]