---
title: "Zakat — The Obligatory Charity | Islam Is Mercy"
description: "Zakat is the yearly charity every Muslim with enough savings must give to people in need. It is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam."
lang: en
url: https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/zakat/
---

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3.  Zakat — The Obligatory Charity

# Zakat — The Obligatory Charity

Written by **Islam Is Mercy Editorial Team**· 1 min readAwaiting scholar review

## The short answer

Zakat is an obligatory yearly charity: Muslims whose savings stay above a set minimum for a full lunar year give a small share — usually 2.5% — to the poor and others in need. It is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam.

## On this page

1.  Meaning
2.  How Muslims use it
3.  Example

**Zakat** (Arabic: الزكاة) is pronounced *za-KAAT* (in Arabic the final sound is often softened to *za-KAAH*).

## Meaning

The word carries two meanings: *purification* and *growth*. Muslims believe that giving zakat purifies their wealth and their hearts from greed, and that God blesses what remains. Zakat is due once a year on savings and certain other assets that stay above a minimum amount, called the *nisab*, for a full lunar year. The usual rate is 2.5%. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained its purpose clearly when he sent a companion to teach the people of Yemen:

> …Allah has made it obligatory for them to pay the Zakat from their property and it is to be taken from the wealthy among them and given to the poor…

[Sahih al-Bukhari 1395](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/24#:~:text=that%20none%20has%20the%20right)Grade: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari)

## How Muslims use it

Zakat is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam. It goes to specific groups named in the Qur’an, such as the poor, the needy and people burdened by debt. It is different from *sadaqah*, which is voluntary charity that a Muslim can give at any time, in any amount — even a smile counts.

## Example

*“Many families calculate their zakat during Ramadan and send it to people in need.”*

To learn more, read [The Five Pillars of Islam](https://islamismercy.com/en/start/five-pillars-of-islam/) and [Wealth and Money in Islam](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/wealth-and-money/).

## Key takeaways

-   Zakat is a yearly obligation on Muslims who have enough wealth.
-   It is usually 2.5% of savings above a minimum threshold.
-   It is taken from the wealthy and given to the poor and other people in need.

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## Sources

-   [Sahih al-Bukhari 1395](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/24#:~:text=that%20none%20has%20the%20right)

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