Zakat (or Zakāh) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Zakat is the Arabic word for “giving to charity” or “giving to the needy”.[note 1][3] Zakat is a form of almsgiving, often collected by the Muslim Ummah.[1] It is considered in Islam a religious obligation,[4][5] and by Quranic ranking, is next after prayer (salah) in importance.[6] Eight heads of zakat are mentioned in the Quran.[7]
As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, zakat is a religious duty for all Muslims who meet the necessary criteria of wealth to help the needy.[8][9] It is a mandatory charitable contribution, often considered to be a tax.[10][11] The payment and disputes on zakat have played a major role in the history of Islam, notably during the Ridda wars.[12][13][page needed]
Zakat on wealth is based on the disposable income of an individual after fulfilling all their essential needs.[14][15] It is customarily 2.5% (or 1⁄40)[16] of a Muslim’s total disposable income after the necessities of their dependents and themselves, and Muslims who do not hold wealth above a minimum amount known as nisab do not need to pay Zakat,[17] but Islamic scholars differ on how much nisab is and other aspects of zakat.[17] According to Islamic doctrine, the collected amount should be paid to the poor and the needy, Zakat collectors, orphans, widows, those to be freed from slavery, the aged who cannot work to feed themselves, those in debt, in the cause of God and to benefit the stranded traveller.
Today, in most Muslim-majority countries, zakat contributions are voluntary, while in Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen, zakat is mandated and collected by the state (as of 2015).[18][19]
Shias, unlike Sunnis, have traditionally regarded zakat as a private action, and they give zakat to imam-sponsored rather than state-sponsored collectors, but it is also obligatory for them.[20][21][22]
Zakat is a mandatory form of charity in Islam and represents one of the Five Pillars of the faith. Many Muslims choose Ramadan as a time to calculate and distribute zakat because charitable acts are believed to carry greater spiritual significance during the month.[23]Some online tools are also available to help individuals estimate their zakat obligations.