Zakah 101: How to Give Correctly

Assalamu Alaikum, girlie!💐

Zakah is more than just a financial obligation—it’s an act of purification, a way to cleanse our wealth and increase barakah in our lives. But let’s be honest: many of us aren’t 100% sure if we’re calculating and giving it correctly.

In today’s newsletter will break it all down so you can give confidently, correctly, and with a full heart.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

✅ What exactly is zakah, and why does it matter?
✅ How to calculate what you owe (without confusion!)
✅ A practical example
✅ Where your zakah should go

Let’s make sure your wealth is giving it dues for the sake of Allah.

💡 What Is Zakah & Why Does It Matter?

Zakāh means to “purify” one’s permissible earnings. Impermissible earnings are not accepted by Allah because the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Allāh is pure and good and loves only that which is pure and good.” [Narrated by Abu Hurairah, Sahih Muslim Book 18, Hadith 44]

Zakah isn’t just charity—it’s a pillar of Islam and an essential part of our faith. It’s a right of the poor over our wealth and a means of purifying what we own.

Allah says:

وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ

“And establish prayer and give zakāh…” [Suratul Baqarah, v. 110]

ۗ خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةًۭ تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌۭ لَّهُمْ

“Take from their wealth ˹O Prophet˺ charity to purify and bless them, and pray for them—surely your prayer is a source of comfort for them…” [Surah at-Tawbah v. 103]

When explaining the virtue of zakah, Shaykh Bin Baz stated: “Payment of Zakah is a way of giving thanks to Allah because of the blessings He bestows upon them. Allah is the true Bestower of favors and blessings. It is the duty of every Muslim to pay out their Zakah as an act of showing gratitude to Allah. A Muslim should thank Allah for making him a deliverer and not a recipient of Zakah.” (Source: abdurrahman.org)

📊 How to Calculate Your Zakah (Without the Confusion!)

Many people delay zakah because they don’t know how much to give. Here’s a simple breakdown:

✔️ Zakah is 2.5% of your ‘zakat-able’ wealth
✔️ You owe zakah if you’ve had wealth above the nisaab (minimum threshold) for one lunar year
✔️ Zakah applies to categories such as:

• Gold, silver, cash (e.g. savings)

• Products sold as merchandise

• That which grows from the earth from fruits and crops

• Livestock

(source: abukhadeejah.com)

A Practical Example

NOTE: This calculation is from 2018. Check recent rates for gold/ silver

📍 Where Should Your Zakah Go?

Allah told us who should receive zakah. He says:

إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَـٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ ٦٠

“As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât) are only for the Fuqarâ’ (poor), and the Masâkin (needy) and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm), and to free the captives, and for those in debt, and for Allâh’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allâh. And Allâh is All-Knower, All-Wise. [Surah At-Tawbah, 9: 60]

The 8 categories mentioned are:

✔️ The very poor

✔️The needy

✔️Those employed to collect Zakah

✔️ The hearts that are newly inclined to Islam

✔️ To free slaves and captives of war

✔️ Those in debt

✔️ In the cause of Allah

✔️ The wayfarer

(Source: Zakah- It’s Status in Islam by Shaykh Bin Baz)

💡 Note: Do your due diligence to give zakah to the categories which Allah specified. If giving through organizations, choose verified and trusted charities that reach those who are eligible recipients.

Zakah holds a significant place in our religion as it is the 3rd pillar of Islam!

When we give, we:
✅ Purify our wealth and soul
✅ Increase barakah in what remains
✅ Help those who need it most
✅ Deepen our connection to Allah through generosity

Allah says: وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

“And those who hoard up gold and silver [Al-Kanz: the money, the Zakât of which has not been paid] and spend them not in the Way of Allâh, announce unto them a painful torment” [Surah At-Tawbah, 9: 34]

Shaykh Bin Baz mentioned, when commenting on the ayah “If you refuse to pay Zakah due from it, it will be a source of your agony on the Day of Resurrection.”

So as we calculate and give our zakah and lets do it with sincere intentions. See it not as a loss, but as a gain—both in this life and the next.

May Allah bless your wealth, multiply your rewards, and accept your zakah. 🤲🏽

Stay blessed,

Fatimah💎

Founder, Finance Girlie

P.S. Here is a great resource to learn more about zakaatul fitr😁

P.P.S. I will spare your inbox next Monday so you fully enjoy/ recover from eid! Catch you on Tuesday Inshaa Allah