Zakat is an annual obligation for eligible Muslims. It is one of the most important duties that must be undertaken within the due Hawl (lunar Islamic year). Zakat is considered the third pillar of Islam and one of its central expressions of worship.
Zakat Purifies Wealth
The word Zakat means purification. The purpose of Zakat is to purify one’s wealth. Zakat spiritually purifies a believer’s possessions while uplifting the underprivileged segments of society. Individually, Zakat helps believers stay safe from the dangerous tendency to accumulate wealth while purifying their material possessions. However, it must be made absolutely clear that Zakat only purifies legitimate wealth. Any wealth earned through illegitimate or haram sources cannot be purified or justified, no matter how much charity is given from it.
Thus, giving Zakat is required of every Muslim who qualifies.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ).
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity)
4. To perform Hajj. (i.e., Pilgrimage to Mecca)
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 8)
Determining Zakat Eligibility & Calculating Zakat
Figuring out your Zakat eligibility is the first step in giving your Zakat. The eligibility criteria depend on whether your possessions are equal to or greater than the Nisab threshold. The Nisab value is equal to 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver. Most Islamic scholars recommend the silver threshold. Once you have determined your Zakat eligibility, you can easily calculate your Zakat obligations by adding up the value of all your Zakat-deductible income, subtracting your short-term debt, and taking 2.5% of the remaining value. Although calculating Zakat is a simple, straightforward process, it is a good idea to use online Zakat calculators to get the correct figure. Remember that, unlike Sadaqah, Zakat is an obligation on all eligible Muslims and not paying it timely is a sin.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and until they establish the salah and pay the zakat. And if they do that, then they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property, unless [they commit acts that are punishable] in Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allah.” [Bukhari & Muslim] (Hadith 8, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi)
Why Paying Zakat Online Is the Smart Choice
Calculating and paying Zakat online is a smart choice because you can fulfill your obligation in just a few minutes with the following advantages:
Reaching Out to Deserving People
Sometimes it’s difficult to reach out to the most deserving people, so by paying your Zakat online, you can make an impact in a place or region where it’s needed most. Depending on the cause you want to support, the timing of your Zakat donations can be critical to someone’s life. For example, if you choose to pay Zakat for someone fighting an illness, your timely donations can actually be the difference between life and suffering. In cases where patients need critical surgeries, this might be a key deciding factor.
Checking the Reputation of the Organization You Support
Another benefit of paying Zakat online is that you can research the organization you support and confirm that its work genuinely makes a difference in society. You can assess their effectiveness by visiting their website and online forums, and you can also read reviews of their efforts. Some organizations provide full details of the people they assist to promote accountability and transparency.
Safety and Ease of Use
Furthermore, making financial transactions online has become much easier and safer. That means you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to pay your Zakat, and you can rest assured that your contributions will make a difference.
Donate & Enjoy Tax Exemptions
In many countries, you get tax exemptions for making charitable contributions. By donating your Zakat online, you can download your receipt, keep a record, and show it as evidence while filing your taxes.
Remain Anonymous While Donating
From an Islamic perspective, another major benefit of paying Zakat online is the ability to stay anonymous.
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His. They are: (1) a just ruler; (2) a young man who has been brought up in the worship of Allah, (i.e. worship Allah (Alone) sincerely from his childhood), (3) a man whose heart is attached to the mosque (who offers the five compulsory congregational prayers in the mosque); (4) two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and they meet and part in Allah’s cause only; (5) a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for an illegal sexual intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah; (6) a person who practices charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity). (7) a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes get flooded with tears.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1423)
Pay Zakat Online to Support Needy Patients
While there are several worthy causes to choose from, healthcare is a cause that can create an immediate and lasting impact. The Quran tells us that saving one life is like saving the entire humanity (Quran 5:32). Healthcare access is correlated with poverty. In developing countries like Pakistan, healthcare access is limited, and thus, many deserving people remain vulnerable. Sometimes, these people keep suffering from treatable diseases.
Transparent Hands is one of the few online crowdfunding platforms that has helped thousands of patients in Pakistan since its inception in 2014. Transparent Hands has a great maternal and child program. They also support a wide range of medical procedures and surgeries to facilitate needy patients. Transparent Hands is also renowned for arranging medical camps in low-income areas all across Pakistan. These camps offer free medical camps, medicines, and diagnostics. Along with medical camps, Transparent Hands is also known for educating people through their healthcare awareness sessions.
Your Zakat donations can help them reach more people. Note that Transparent Hands is a Shariah-compliant organization and works under the guidance of a qualified and well-versed Islamic scholar. You can visit Transparent Hands’ website and online forums before committing to your donations.
