Why is Zakat important?

Learn about the importance of Zakat

Zakat is a fascinating word in Arabic.It relates to cleanliness, growth, blessing and praise.

This form of charity helps to purify your wealth, increases blessings in your life and gains you much reward. Zakat is an obligatory tax on every Muslim designed to help the poor and empower communities.

Penny Appeal's Feed Our World Appeal is one of many appeals that promise 100% of your Zakat goes where it is intended!

Why is Zakat important?

Zakat is important because it benefits not only the individual, but also the recipient and society at large. The power of Zakat cannot be underestimated.

It's an incredible institution intended to transform society. Imagine this: if just the top ten richest people in the world paid Zakat, that would amount to £7.7 billion!

That would lift countless people from poverty. The effects for the world would be huge if we all just gave our part.

The importance of Zakat for a Muslim

Zakat is a commandment from Allah (swt) to the believers. It is stressed in both the Qur’an and the Sunnah. In fact, the word Zakat is mentioned 30 times in the Qur’an.

It's also one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the shahadah (declaring the oneness of Allah), salah (prayer), sawm (fasting) and Hajj (the pilgrimage).

5 benefits of giving Zakat

• It purifies your wealth

Zakat spiritually purifies your wealth and soul. It's a way to learn discipline, show your obedience to Allah (SWT) and increase in love for your brothers and sisters worldwide.

• A sign of brotherhood

If there ever was a time we need unity and to come together, it's now. The Qur’an describes as brothers in faith and Zakat is one of the best ways to demonstrate this brotherhood.

“But (even so), if they repent, establish regular prayers, and give their Zakat, they are your brethren in Faith.”

Zakat is a way of increasing love, harmony and connection between Muslims.

• A sign of a faithful community

“The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, pay their Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His Mercy: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.” (Surah Al-Taubah 9:71)

As Allah (SWT) says above, those who fulfil the order of paying their Zakat not only fulfil the trust He enjoined on them, but in doing so become of those who attain His Mercy.

• Gaining closeness to Allah (SWT)

Zakat is both a physical and a spiritual act, and thereby it's a way of gaining proximity to Allah (SWT)

• The removal of sins

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Giving charity wipes away sins just as water extinguishes fire.”

DONATE YOUR ZAKAT

Giving your Zakat

Giving your Zakat is one of the greatest acts you can ever do, with your reward being potentially infinite.

It’s both the right of Allah (swt), as well as the right of the poor. In fact, an Islamic government can forcibly take Zakat from the rich if they withhold it.

We at Penny Appeal are proud to have a 100% Zakat policy!

Our 100% Zakat policy means every single penny of your Zakat donation will go directly to those who need it most 100% of the time – giving you 100% of the reward. You could use your Zakat donations to feed the poor, sponsor an orphan or even to support those affected by Covid-19.

The word ‘Zakat’ means cleanliness, growth, blessing and praise; we hope you give and discover all of this through your incredible gift of Zakat.

We pray Allah (SWT) accepts your Zakat and blesses your Ramadan, Ameen!