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Zakat (Almsgiving)
O/N 2013
4 (a) Outline the practice of almsgiving (zakat) in Islam. [10]
Answer:
Zakat is a pillar of Islam. It is an act of worship which benefits mankind. Its importance can be judged from
the fact that it is mentioned 32 times in the Qur’an.The word Zakat is derived from ‘Zaka’ which means to
increase or to bless. Another meaning of the word as used in the Quran carries the sense of purification. The
amount of payment and distribution of Zakat was defined at Madinah in the second year of the Hijrat.
The payment of Zakat is compulsory on every adult, free Muslim who owns property to the extent of the
prescribed rate called Nisab, provided such property has remained in his ownership and possession
uninterruptedly for full one year.
Zakat is payable on cash, gold and silver, jewellery, crops, animals, minerals, agricultural lands and all
kinds of commercial goods.
• On cash, gold and silver: Zakat is paid at a rate of 2 ½%. For example, on such possessions valued as
worth $100000, the zakat payable will be $2500, which is 2.5 percent or one-fortieth of their value. A
person who possesses 612.36 grams of silver or 87.48 grams gold is liable to pay Zakat.
• Produce from Mines: Owners of mines have to pay one-fifth of the produce of mines. This is called
Khums.
• On the produce of agricultural lands is called Ushr is to be found in the Quran. It is levied at the rate of
one-tenth of the agricultural produce of lands benefiting by rain or some natural spring; and one
twentieth of the produce of artificially irrigated lands.
• On all articles of trade exceeding 200 dirhams.
• For every forty sheep or goats- one goat; On thirty to forty cattle, one calf of one year, on every forty
cattle, a two year old calf. On every five camels, one goat or sheep.
• Sadaqah-ul-Fitr is an obligatory charity given on the completion of the month of Ramazan.

The Holy Quran tell us how the Zakat money is to be distributed. It says:
“ Alms are for the poor and the needy and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose
hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of
Allah; and for the wayfarer…” (9:60)
• The poor and the needy in this category are those people who may have some funds but not enough
to meet the threshold for nisab.
• The destitute: these are the people who have no funds and are living on the very basic necessities of
life.
• Zakat collectors: people appointed by the government to collect and distribute zakat.
• Muslims converts in this category are the new converts to Islam, who are genuinely poor and are
given zakat to help them get on their feet.
• Prisoners of war or slaves: so that they may be able to use zakat funds to buy their freedom.
• People in debt: those who may have incurred debts, to meet their needs but cannot pay them back
are eligible for zakat.
• Travellers: Muslims, who in the middle of their journey are out of funds are eligible for zakat
donations.
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• Others: zakat funds can also be spent on people and organization that are engaged in services to
Islam.
It must be remembered that zakat is applicable only on the rightful. i.e. halal, earnings. zakat cannot be used
to purify wealth that is wrongly and illegally earned, i.e. through haram means.
Zakat cannot be paid to
• Non-Muslim
• To one’s husband/wife, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, the descendants of the
Prophet (P.B.U.H), and to those who meet the threshold of nisabi.e the minimum amount that a
Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat.
• To workers, servants, etc. as wages of their services.
• zakat funds also cannot be used for burial expenses or to pay off the debt of the dead, as it is
imperative according to Sharia that the recipient of zakat should be made owner of it. Therefore,
zakat should not be spent on public project e.g building of road, bridges etc.

Benefits/ importance of Zakat:

M/J 2017
5(a) Alms-giving (zakat) is an act of worship which benefits the community of Muslims. Write in
detail about its benefits to the giver, the receiver and to society as a whole. [10]
Zakat is a pillar of Islam and it was made obligatory on rich Muslims in the 2nd year of hijra. The word zakat is
mentioned 32 times in the Quran. It has the following benefits for the giver, the receiver and the society as a
whole.
Giver
• zakat purifies the heart of the giver of love of wealth and greed and strengthens the giver’s bonds
with God as they give from their wealth to earn God’s pleasure and mercy. The giver is also fulfilling
one of the Pillars of Islam. Zakat is a blessing to the giver as by this act their wealth is multiplied.

• Quran says, ‘The parable of those who spend their substance in the way of Allah is that of a grain of
corn, it grows seven ears and each ear has a hundred grains.’ (Al Baqarah 2:261) Moreover, zakat
expiates the sins of a person.
• Payment of zakat provides open handedness, generosity, and sympathy in a Muslim towards the
needy person. Allah says: “ Take the charity (Zakat) from their wealth in order to purify and cleanse
them by way of it.” [ 9: 103]
• On one hand it indicates a person’s sincerity of faith, while on the other hand it shows his
commitment to sacrifice something which he covets ( material wealth) in the way of Allah (SWT). It is
abiding by one of the pillars of Islam, upon which rests an individual’s prosperity in this worldly life
and the Hereafter
Receiver
• it is not only a blessing for the receiver but helps them to meet their needs, it fosters good will and
brotherhood in the hearts of the poor and promotes equality.
• Zakat is a source of power for the needy. In addition to providing the financially stricken poor with
desperately needed capital, zakat also injects in them a dynamic energy, instilling in them the
confidence to provide for their own.
Social
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• People come closer together like a single family in which those who have the means show compassion
to those who cannot fulfill their needs. It removes the grudges and ill feelings found in the hearts of the
poor and destitute.
• It prevents extreme financial disparity and associated social evils and crimes.
• It leads to anequal distribution of wealth in the society and prevents its accumulation in the hands of
afew.
• Paying Zakat allows wealth to be distributed equally in a society. It eradicates begging because everyone
is getting their rights.(Social)
• Zakat also stimulates investment and discourages hoarding in the community, if people do not invest
their wealth it will gradually be consumed by zakat, therefore it is an effective way of keeping wealth
in circulation. Prophet said, 'If anyone of you is a guardian of an orphan who owns property, he must
tradewith (invest) it and not leave it till sadaqa (zakat) consumes it' (tirmidhi).
General Question
O/N 2019
5(a) Write an account of alms-giving (zakat) and say who is liable to pay it and who it can be paid to. [10]
M/J 2021
5(a) Give an account of the Pillar of Almsgiving (zakat).[10]

Fasting (Saum)
O/N 2010
3 (a) What are the daily observances of the Ramadan fast? [10]
M/J 2012
5 (a) Outline the features of the Ramadan fast, and identify which Muslims are exempted
from fasting during this month. [10]
Answer (Learn and write):
• Fasting during the month of Ramadan is obligatory on all Muslim adults, male and female. The Quran says,
“ O you who believe ! Fasting is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you
may learn self restraint.” [2:183]
• The hours of fasting are from first light (before dawn) until sunset.
• It is desirable to have a meal before keeping a fast till dawn which is referred as Sehri.
• Muslims should make an intention for the fast i.e. “I intend to keep tomorrow’s fast of Ramadan.”
• With this, a person is subject to all restrictions and prohibitions associated with a fast till the setting of the
sun. Muslims must abstain from food, drink etc. during daylight hours. They should also refrain from
smoking, marital relations, medicines etc. This is known as Imsak.
• They should live their lives as normal, making no concessions to lack of food. Muslims should be
particularly pious and visit mosques regularly. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “When the month of
Ramadan comes, the doors of Heaves are opened and the doors of Hell are closed and the devils are
chained.”
• Muslims break their fast with a meal at sunset in the evening reciting the prayer, “O Allah! I fasted for you
and I believe in you and I put my trust in you and with the sustenance you have given me, I now break
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the fast.” This is known as Iftar. Many Muslims follow the Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s example of taking a drink
and eating a date and then pray. They follow this with a meal often eaten with friends.
• Muslims should try to be present at recitations of the Holy Quran in the tarawih prayers during the course
of the month.
• On the Night of Power they should attend mosques and spend the night in prayer. It is one of the last 5
odd nights of Ramadan and the reward for praying in it is better than the worship of one thousand months.
Many Muslims believe it to be the 27th night.
• Some Muslims withdraw to mosques for the last ten days of Ramadan which is called Itikaf and dedicate
their time to prayer and worship. The fasts of Ramadan continue until new moon of Shawal.
• The sick people, travellers, very old people and females who are in a state of menstruation or period of
childbirth are exempt from fasting as long as such conditions last. However, they must make up the fast for
an equal number of days within the next year which is known as Qaza.
• If the breaking of the fast before sunset is intentional and withou any valid reason then a person has to
observe the Kaffara in which he has to fast for continuous 60 days in addition to Qaza, but in case of an
illness, feed 60 people twice a day for each fast missed or broken without any valid reason.
Exemption from Fasting
• Children under the age of puberty and discretion.
• Insane people who are unaccountable for their actions: no compensation or any other substitute is
enjoined on these two categories of people.
• Men and women who are too old or feeble to undertake the obligations of fasting are exempt.
However, they have to give fidya, which is feeding a poor person twice a day or to give grain or its
equivalent in cash to needy.
• Sick people whose health is likely to deteriorate by fasting; they may postpone the fast for as long as
they are ill and then make up for it at a later date, a day for a day.
• They travelers may be exempt during their travel but should make up for the missed fasts later on.
• Pregnant women/breastfeeding may also not fast if their health or the infant’s health would be at risk by
doing so. They too need to make up for the missed fasts later on.
• Women, at the time of their mensuration or confinement due to childbirth must postpone the fasts and
make up for them by fasting afterwards.

Benefits / importance of Fasting

O/N 2014
5 (a) What are the moral, spiritual and other benefits of fasting in Ramadan? [10]
O/N 2016
4 (a) What are the benefits to individuals and the community of fasting in the month of
Ramadan? [10]
M/J 2021
4(a) Fasting in Ramadan benefits Muslims in many ways. Write about the major benefits
of fasting in Ramadan.[10]
Answer:
Fasting has been the universal religious institution. It was made obligatory on the followers of other religions
too. It has numerous merits and benefits for the individuals and the community.
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• The believer renounces food, drink, and abstains from all other enjoyments willingly in obedience to the
command of Allah, to seek His pleasure. It helps in building up a man’s moral character as it teaches him
self control and self restrain. As Muslims fast, they should control own temper, they should remain calm
and refrain from harming others, verbally or physically. They should refrain from backbiting, stealing,
cheating , gossip, lies, obscenity, vulgarity and physical, mental and spiritual sins. Abu Huraira reported
the Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in
need of his leaving his food and drink.”
• Fasting ensures the harmony and unity of society. Fasting raises awareness of the situation of poor people
who live in our society. Fasting teaches the rich, who eat good, nutritious food and never suffer from
hunger, what hunger is. When they stay hungry and thirsty for a specific period they begin to think about
the poor and feel empathy for them. The sense of empathy makes it easier for them to make friends and
socialize. On the other hand, because of the kindness and compassion of the rich, the poor are less likely to
feel envy and hatred toward those who are better off. Thus, a change of attitude on both sides can occur.
The enmity between both social strata can be brought to an end in this way with peace and security
prevailing in society. Fasting brings the rich closer to the poor and links them in a bond of responsibility and
respect for each other. Ramadan is also a time of generosity. People are more generous, more cordial, and
more ready than at other times of the year to do good and charitable work. Muslims often invite one
another, friends and guests, Muslims and non-Muslims, in particular neighbors, regardless of creed, to
share the evening meal and exchange gifts and best wishes.
• Abstention from food and drink for a full month is beneficial for a person’s health as it gives rest to
stomach, the whole system is cleansed of undesirable material, and the body gets rid of fat, cholesterol and
other toxic matters.
• Fasting brings a man closer to Allah, Allah says, “. Fasting is like a shield, and he who fasts has two joys:
a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord.” (Hadis Qudsi) Believers are ordered to
observe fast to be near Allah and gain “Taqwa”. Fasting strengthens the spiritual powers of the believer; it
protects man from all kinds of temptations. The reward of all good deeds are multiplied by ten times to
seven hundred times, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Allah said, “All the deeds of Adam’s sons (people) are
for them, except fasting which is for me, and I will give the reward for it. The reward of good deeds is
multiplied ten times to seven hundred times.”
“Fasting is a shield and protection from the fire and from committing sins.”
“By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is
better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk.” (Agreed)
• The previous sins of a person are forgiven, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Whoever established prayers
on the night of the Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins
will be forgiven, and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward
from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”
He also said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of hell
are closed and the devil are chained.” (Trimidhi)
• Fasting brings economic benefits for the Muslim community. During the month of Ramadan the rich
people spend generously on the poor to seek the blessing of Allah. These enable the poor to fulfill their
needs. The old and the permanently sick people also feed the poor and the needy generously during the
month of Ramadan, Allah says. “For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom the feeding of one
that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free, it is better for him.” (Al-Baqarah 2:184) The
Prophet (p.b.u.h) said; “During Ramadan, the provisions of the believers are increased.”