Question

Explain the verbal and technical meaning of Zakat and types of recipients of Zakat.(Detailed)

Answer 1

• Zakat - It is a religious mandate, ordering all muslims who meet the necessary criteria to donate some portion of their wealth each year for charitable cause. Zakat means giving money to poor and needy people. This giving away of money is said to purify the yearly earnings of a person which are above the need of one's family and needs.

• Verbal meaning of Zakat - The verbal meaning of Zakat is to purify. As it is mandatory for all Muslims to donate certain portions of their wealth to poor and needy each year, this charity causes the purification of one's earnings. As one is giving away the money for poor and needy, it is said to be an act of purity. So this charitable cause purifies the earnings of the person donating the wealth as zakat.

• Technical meaning of Zakat - The technical meaning of zakat iis, that which purifies. The Zakat amount is the one that purifies the entire yearly earnings of a person. Zakat is literally considered a way to purify one's income and wealth from impure ways of acquisition or earning. It is an islamic finance term mandating all muslims to donate certain portion of wealth each and every year. It is a compulsory process for alll Muslims, and is considered as a form of worship.

• Types of recipients of Zakat - The recipient must be poor or needy to recieve the Zakat. The recipient must not also belong to the immediate family of donator. The recipient canno be Spouse, children, parents, and grandparents of person giving Zakat. There are eight tyes of people who can recieve Zakat and they are as follows :

1.Fakir - Fakir(al-fuqara) are poor people, meaning they have low income

2.Miskin - Miskin(al-masakin) are needy people. These are the people who are in difficulty.

3.Amil - Amil are the workers associated with collection and distribution of Zakat.

4.Mualaf - Mualaf are the people who converts to Islam.

5.Gharimin - Gharimin are those people who are in debt.

6.Ibnu Sabil - Ibnu Sabil are those people who are stranded during a journey.

7.Riqab - Riqab are those people who wants to improve their standard of living in terms of religion, education and learning about Islam.

8.Fisabililah - Meaning the money recieved as Zakat to be used in the way of Allah. For example, money to be used for repair work of mosque, for education purpose etc.