Zakat Rules
Learn How To Perform Zakat Based on Quran Alone
In the Quran, zakat is emphasized as a fundamental act of worship. It is repeatedly mentioned alongside prayer (salah), highlighting its importance in spiritual and social life. Zakat is described as a means of purification and a duty to support the poor, the needy, and other specified recipients. The Quran stresses that giving zakat increases blessings and prevents hoarding wealth unjustly. Ultimately, zakat serves as both a personal obligation and a tool for economic justice in society.
30:39
وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ مِنْ رِبًا لِيَرْبُوَ فِي
أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ
مِنْ زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ
الْمُضْعِفُونَ
And whatever you have given out of usury-interest to have-gains-of-interest within the wealth of people will not have gains-of-interest with Allah. But whatever you have given out of Zakat (donation), desiring the Face of Allah – then they are those who are the Doublers/Multipliers.
There Are Two Major Forms Of Zakat
1: Soul-Cleansing Zakat
2: Giving Zakat – Donation
Rule 1A: Salat-Prayer Cleanses Your Soul
Zakat itself is a form of soul-cleansing (tazakkā f.5 v.) as said in 35:18 through Salat-Prayer and that is also said in 87:14-15 (87:14 tazakkā & 87:15 faṣallā).
You will notice that, Salat-Prayer and Zakah are mentioned together in most cases in the Quran.
35:18
وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌۭ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ
إِلَىٰ حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌۭ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰٓ ۗ إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ
ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا
يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
No burdened soul can carry the burden of another. Even if one weighted down calls for help with its burden, nothing can be lifted from it, even if they were related. You are to warn those who fear their Lord inwardly, and perform the prayer. He who purifies himself purifies himself for his own good. To Allah is the ultimate return.
87:14-15
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ
وَذَكَرَ ٱسْمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ
Successful is he who purifies himself.
And mentions the name of his Lord, and prays.
Rule 1B: Do Not Claim You Are Cleansed
4:49
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ
بَلِ اللَّهُ يُزَكِّي مَنْ يَشَاءُ
وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
Did you not see those who ascribe themselves/their souls cleansed/pure (yuzakkūna anfusahum)? Rather, Allah cleanses/purifies (yuzakkī) whoever He wills,
and they will not be wronged a single date-thread.
53:32
الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ
الْمَغْفِرَةِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنْشَأَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ
نْتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ فَلَا تُزَكُّوا
أَنْفُسَكُمْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ
Those who avoid gross sins and indecencies—except for minor lapses—your Lord is of Vast Forgiveness. He knows you well, ever since He created you from the earth, and ever since you were embryos in your mothers’ wombs. So do not ascribe yourselves/your souls cleansed/pure; He is most knowing with whoever fears/is god-conscious.
Aren’t the verses self-explanatory?
Rule 1C: Obeying Allah & His Commands are Forms of Zakat
24:28
فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوا فِيهَا أَحَدًا فَلَا تَدْخُلُوهَا حَتَّىٰ يُؤْذَنَ
لَكُمْ وَإِنْ قِيلَ لَكُمُ ارْجِعُوا فَارْجِعُوا هُوَ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ
بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ
And if you do not find anyone therein, do not enter them until permission has been given you. And if it is said to you, “Go back,” then go back; it is purer/azkā for you. And Allah is Knowing of what you do.
The verses speak for themselves right?
Rule 1D: Lowering Eyesight & Guard Chasity
24:30
قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ
ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts.
That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.
Do the verses not provide a clear explanation?
Rule 2A: Spreading the Message/Book of Allah
2:129
رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ
آيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ
الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Our Lord, and raise up among them a messenger, of themselves, who will recite to them Your revelations, and teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. You are the Almighty, the Wise.”
2:151
كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًا مِنْكُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِنَا
وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ
وَيُعَلِّمُكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَ
Just as We sent to you a messenger from among you, who recites Our revelations to you, and purifies you, and teaches you the Book and wisdom,
and teaches you what you did not know.
3:164
لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْ
أَنْفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ
الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ
God has blessed the believers, as He raised up among them a messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His revelations, and purifies them, and teaches them the Scripture and wisdom; although before that they were in evident error.
62:2
هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ
آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ
وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ
It is He who sent among the <ummiyine> a messenger from themselves; reciting His revelations to them, and purifying them, and teaching them the Scripture and wisdom; although they were in obvious error before that.
Rule 2B: Give Money/Wealth
This is the most common form of Zakat known today. Due to this definition in 92:18, Zakat can be interpreted as ‘Mandatory-Donation‘.
92:18
الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ
يَتَزَكَّىٰ
The one who gives his wealth/monies
(mālahu) yataZakkā – to self-cleanse-himself (v. f5).
Rule 2C: Sadaqat/Charity is a Form of Zakat
9:103
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا وَ
صَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَهُمْ ۗ
وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Take, from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allah ‘s blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
