The conditions for a valid payment of zakat
What makes an act of giving actually count as zakat: who can pay it, the intention it needs, and who it must reach.
Giving money to the poor is not always the same as paying Zakat. For it to count as Zakat, five things must be true.
For a payment to count as Zakat
- The person paying must be a Muslim.
- The person paying must be of sound mind.
- The person paying must be grown up.
- The person must mean to give it as Zakat.You do not have to say the word ‘Zakat’ out loud: it is enough to mean it in your heart. If you give something as a gift and mean it as Zakat, that counts. But if you already gave money away all year with no thought of Zakat, you cannot decide afterwards that it was Zakat, unless the poor person still has that exact money when you make the intention.
- It must go to someone who is actually allowed to receive Zakat.
For a payment to count as zakat, all five of these must be true: the giver is a Muslim, of sound mind and grown up, means it as zakat, and gives it to someone who is allowed to receive zakat. Without them, it is only ordinary charity.
12The conditions for the valid payment of Zakah are as follows.
Conditions for a valid payment
- Being a Muslim.Zakah given by a non-Muslim is not valid.
- Being of sound mind.Zakah given by an insane or mentally deficient person is not valid.
- Being mature.Zakah given by a minor is not valid.
- The intention of Zakah.The intention must be made when giving Zakah or when setting aside the Zakah portion from one’s wealth: it should be firm enough that, if asked at that moment, the giver would say “I am giving Zakah.” If the intention is made after the giving, it is only valid while the wealth is still with the poor recipient; once it has been spent, the intention comes too late and Zakah must be given again. If someone intends to pay Zakah in general but never separates a Zakah portion, and instead gives amounts here and there through the year without that specific intention, none of it counts as Zakah; a later claim that it was all meant as Zakah all along is not accepted. There is no need to say the word “Zakah” aloud; the intention alone suffices, so a gift, a loan, or a seasonal present given with the intention of Zakah is valid as Zakah. It is nonetheless better to give Zakah openly, though giving it discreetly is preferable in itself.
- Giving it to someone entitled to receive it.Zakah must reach someone eligible to receive it: the eligible categories are set out separately.
These five conditions are required for a payment of zakat to be valid: the payer is a Muslim, of sound mind and mature, intends it as zakat, and gives it into the ownership of someone entitled to receive it. Deeds are judged by intentions, and zakat is what is taken from the rich and given to the poor.
12The conditions of ṣiḥḥah (validity) for the payment of Zakāh are as follows.
Conditions for a valid payment
- Islam.Zakāh given by a non-Muslim does not discharge the obligation.
- ʿAql (soundness of mind).Given by one insane or of deficient reason, it is not valid.
- Bulūgh (maturity).Given by a minor, it is not valid.
- Niyyat az-zakāh (the intention of Zakāh).The niyyah must accompany the act of giving, or the setting aside of the Zakāh portion from the total wealth, and must be firm enough that the giver, if asked at that instant, would say “I am giving Zakāh.” An intention formed after the giving is valid only so long as the wealth remains with the poor recipient; once the recipient has spent it, the intention is too late and Zakāh must be paid afresh. Where someone holds only a general intention to pay Zakāh but never separates a specific Zakāh portion, instead disbursing sums through the year without that particular niyyah, none of it is credited as Zakāh; a subsequent claim that the whole was intended as Zakāh throughout is not accepted. Vocalising the word “Zakāh” is not required; the niyyah alone suffices, so that a gift (hibah), a loan (qarḍ), or a seasonal present given with the intention of Zakāh is valid as such. It is mustaḥabb to give Zakāh openly (to encourage others), though giving it in secret (sirran) is in itself preferable.
- Tamlīk to an eligible recipient.The Zakāh must be given in ownership to one of the persons entitled to receive it, the categories of whom are set out separately.
The validity (sihhah) of a zakah payment is conditional on all five: Islam, 'aql, bulugh, niyyat az-zakah, and tamlik to an eligible recipient. Actions are by intentions, and zakah is by definition what is taken from the rich of the Muslims and given to their poor.
12This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 319 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Rulings of Zakat Conditions for Valid Payment of Zakat
The conditions for the valid payment of Zakat are as follows:
- Being a Muslim: Zakat given by a non-Muslim is not valid.
- Being of sound mind: Zakat given by an insane or mentally deficient person is not valid.
- Being mature: Zakat given by a minor is not valid.
- Intention of Zakat: When giving Zakat or separating the Zakat portion from the total wealth, the intention of giving Zakat must be made [The intention for Zakat should be such that if asked at the time of giving, one should immediately say, "I am giving Zakat."]. If the intention is made after giving Zakat, it will only be valid if the wealth is still with the poor. If the wealth has already been spent by the poor, the intention is not valid, and Zakat must be given again. If someone has only the intention of paying Zakat but has not separated the Zakat portion from the wealth, and has been giving some amount periodically without the intention of Zakat, then it will not count as Zakat [The claim that all that was given throughout the year was with the intention of giving Zakat is not valid.]. There is no need to explicitly say "Zakat" when giving it. The mere intention of Zakat is enough. For example, if someone gives something as a gift or loan [One may give a gift or a seasonal present and still have the intention of giving Zakat.] but intends it as Zakat, it will still be considered valid. However, it is preferable to give Zakat openly [It is better to give Zakat discreetly.].
- Giving Zakat to the rightful owner: Zakat must be given to someone who is eligible to receive it (further details will be provided).
Note: The explanation of the conditions for the obligation and validity of Zakat payment ends here. The rules for various types of Zakat will be discussed in detail in sequence.
Related
- Who may receive zakat The seven categories entitled to zakat, who may never receive it, and the preferred order for choosing who to give it to.
- The ruling on zakat, and when it becomes obligatory Who zakat is obligatory on, what denying it means, and the eight conditions that must all be met before zakat is due.
- The charity of Eid al-Fitr (Sadaqat al-Fitr, Zakat al-Fitr) Who must pay the charity of Eid al-Fitr (Sadaqat al-Fitr), when it becomes due, how much to give of each kind of food, and who may receive it.
- What zakat is, and why it matters The meaning of zakat, its place as the third pillar of Islam, and the warnings and rewards the Qur'an and hadith attach to it.