Zakat-+Mandatory+Charity

toc =  = =**What is Zakat?** = Zakat is one of the most important principles in Islam and is mandatory everyone that can afford it. Zakat goes to the poor and also goes to ways in helping mosques and anything that helps the worship Allah. The word Zakat translates to growth and is the meaning in Islam to give back to your community. Much like in other religions where they encourage people to help the community. Zakat is found in the Qur'ran with this verse "The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarers; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is knower, Wise." (The Holy Qur'an [|9:60] ). As shown in this verse people that worship that are stable must pay for the poor etc. Zakat has been accepted by the people of Islam for many years and is still highly practiced in the Muslim world.
 * Alex Martirosyan﻿**

= = =How Much and When?=

Zakat is due after on lunar year and the owner must pay 2.5% of his wealth towards Zakat. It is mandatory and each muslim calculates how much they must pay. A person may also give more money to the sadaqa if they have a lot of money, this is usually done secretly. People who pay to the sadaqa (a voluntary charity) want to keep it secret because Islamic people do not want to show wealth means power or one person is better than another for doing this.

=﻿= =Why is it Important?=

Zakat is important because in Islamic belief they belive in that if one man suffers everyone else does as well. An important belief is that all things belong to god and that means wealth is by human trust. Zakat is belived to purify ones soul and is simmilar to confessions in the Christian religion. Muslims have a genuine feeling that it is an investment and will help the poor. The reason why it is mandatory is mainly to clear your soul and to help your own community which is the main Islamic belife; helping others if they dont have what you have. [] An article on the United States stopping Zakat made many muslims angry because of how important it is. This article shows how respected and important Zakat is in even in modern standards.

This video (to the right) explains Zakat and why it is important to Muslims. media type="youtube" key="RCReSuppTeo?fs=1" height="337" width="422" align="right" = = = = =Who Receives it it=

The people who receive Zakat are


 * 1. The needy
 * 2. Extremely poor
 * 3. Those employed to collect
 * 4. Those whose hearts are to be won
 * 5. To free the captives
 * 6. Those in debt
 * 7. In the way of Jihad
 * 8. Muslims

And this only goes towards Muslims. People today interpret Jihad as terrorism and it has completely become an act of terror and there has been a lot of controversy on where that money actaully goes.

=How Zakat used in Religion=

Zakat is in the 5 pillars of faith and taken very seriously. The Muslim community also takes it very seriously and people in the religion like to help out in their community's. Now in modern times the world has come to believe that the religion is evil because of the extremists. Islam is actually a very peaceful and helpful religion where it just got a bad stereotype. Zakat shows that they are peace and helpful because everyone in the Islam religion accepts it and they want to help. Zakat in Islam belief has helped it grow and continues to prove that they are peaceful people.

=Conclusion=

Zakat is about giving and helping people in your community and other people can then see this and help their community's out. That is the meaning for the Islamic religion to help people that are in need and to help your community when needed.

** ** Bibliography ** ** Council on Foreign Relations. “ACLU: Blocking Faith.” //CFR- Council on Foreign Relations//. N.p., Dec.-Jan. 2011. Web. 20 Jan. 2011. .

El-Khouly, Ebrahim, Dr., and Muzammil Siddiqi, Dr. “Zakat.” //Islamicity//. N.p., Jan.-Feb. 2011. Web. 20 Jan. 2011. . = = = Zakat. “Zakat (the Alms Tax).” //Zakat//. N.p., Dec.-Jan. 2011. Web. 20 Jan. 2011. . =