Today, I return to an important subject, which
is Zakaat, the third pillar of Islam. I have noticed that despite
the explanations provided about Zakaat, this subject remains unclear to many of
you. Hence, I come once again on this subject and request all my disciples to
refer to my past sermons, as well as what I am going to say to you today.
Compile this into a small booklet and distribute it to everyone so that you
have a reference regarding Zakaat and can clearly understand how you need to
calculate Zakaat and upon what assets you need to apply it.
First of all: What is Zakaat? It is a tax that Allah has made obligatory for all adult Muslims (who have reached puberty) and who possess the minimum sum upon which Zakaat is mandatory, referred to as “Nisaab.” This tax purifies the wealth of believers, not only bringing more Barakat (blessings) to their worldly and spiritual possessions but also serving as an essential means for Islam to gather sufficient funds and resources to help its progression globally. Additionally, it strengthens and enriches the poor, alleviates their suffering from poverty, and offers them a new chance to rebuild their lives – to give them a fresh start in life. Therefore, it is called the Purification Tax (a purifying tax) because sharing it with the less fortunate encourages kindness, generosity, and a balance of wealth within society, redistributing wealth to prevent the rich from becoming too rich and the poor from becoming too poor.