This Ramadan Help Needy People by giving them Zakat in Covid-19

Ramadan is here, and it’s hard to contain our excitement! Muslims around the world have begun preparing for Ramadan, The month of Ramadan is well-loved and enjoyed by all Muslims, and be it rich or poor, due to several reasons which also include the charitable acts emphasized in Islam. There are various types of charity given during Ramadan such as Zakat Al-Fitr, Zakat Al-Mal, Sadaqah, etc. Zakat is such an essential part of Islam. It is considered the third of the five pillars of our faith. Zakat is an obligatory payment made to the poor, vulnerable, and deserving as they established right given by Allah. The types of Zakat are given below;

Zakat Al-Fitr

Zakat Al-Fitr has to be given by the head of the family before the start of the Eid prayer, to the poor and less privileged. This is to ensure that all Muslims celebrate a hunger-free Eid filled with happiness and contentment. The local food or wheat is generally used as a measure in giving Zakat Al-Fitr.

Sadaqah

This is a type of voluntary charity. Sadaqah is referred to as an act of kindness done by one Muslim to another, be it smiling or financial support for their daily living, etc. It is a form of charity that is not restricted to the rich only, but any Muslims can perform Sadaqah in ways that they can.

Zakat Al-Mal

Zakat Al-Mal is an obligatory charity that is a duty upon every able Muslim. 2.5% of a Muslim’s accumulated wealth is calculated yearly, and the proceeds should be distributed among the poor and needy, more specifically saying distributed to the eight eligible groups who can obtain zakat.

When Should You Pay Zakat?

Zakat has to be given when one lunar year (hawl) has passed, beginning from the day your wealth exceeds the nisab (the minimum amount a Muslim must have before being required to pay Zakat/Zakah). It can be given at any time of the year, but it should not pass more than one hawl. It is always a great idea to have a particular date to pay Zakat so that you do not drop out on this duty.

Why Do Muslims Pay Zakat in Ramadan?

As discussed earlier, Ramadan is a blessed month where your rewards for good commissions are multiplied. Most Muslims prefer giving Zakat throughout Ramadan so that they can get more rewards. Paying Zakat every year while Ramadan also guarantees you are not delaying your Zakat payment more than a hawl. Following the present calendar can be confusing when setting a specific date, or sometimes we tend to forget. Therefore using Ramadan as a guideline to make Zakat payments will be splendid and useful!

What should we do to help Unemployed and Needy People in this Covid-19 during Ramadan?

Despite the challenges brought about by social distancing, the Muslim community has still found ways to channel money to those in need. While the month of Ramadan is loaded with blessings, our brothers and sisters less fortunate are confronting difficulties due to the shortage of basic foods needed to survive during this Difficult TIME of Lockdowns. This Ramadan, when you sit down for Sehar and Iftaar, take a pause, and spare a thought for all those people less fortunate, living in Pakistan, who are not able to socially isolate. These are people who live day today. They don’t have the money nor have been allowed to stock their food we should provide them food, shelter Zakat and all the basic and essential needs of life as much as possible.

How much Zakat do we need to pay?

Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It is an obligatory act of charity amounting to 2.5% of a Muslim’s annual savings. Zakat is intended to purify our wealth, not only physically, but also spiritually. Our Prophet Muhammad (saw) has set Nisab at the rate equivalent to 87.5 grams of gold or 612.4 grams of silver. Today, this is usually the equivalent value in your local currency. In the Hanafi madhab, the value of silver is used to determine the Nisab eligibility to pay Zakat. In other madhabs, the value of gold is used. The value of gold and silver changes daily, so your Zakat payment will vary a little each year. You can use our Zakat calculator to work out this year’s Zakat.