Zakat, giving to purify

The third pillar is zakat: الزَّكَاة az-zakaat.

In the Qur'an, Allah very often speaks of prayer and zakat together: وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ wa aqiimu ṣ-ṣalaata wa aatu z-zakaat "Establish the prayer and give the zakat." (meaning of part of verse 2:43)

What is zakat? Each year, an adult Muslim who has enough money (and has kept it for a whole year) gives a small part of it: for money, it is 2.5%, that is two and a half coins out of 100. This money goes to people in need: the poor, those who do not have enough to live on, and other people Allah names in the Qur'an (9:60).

And children? Children do not pay zakat on money. But at the end of Ramadan, the family gives zakat al-fiṭr for each person, even babies, so that poor people can celebrate Eid too (Bukhari 1503, Muslim 984).

And you can already give: that is ṣadaqa, charity, which we give whenever we like. • A coin in the mosque's money box. • A toy that you share. • And even a smile! "Your smile to your brother is a charity." (Tirmidhi 1956)

Little activity: with your family, make a "sharing box". Put a small coin in it every week, then give it together to the mosque or a charity.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The word "zakat" means both "to purify" and "to make grow". Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ to take a part of their wealth "to purify them" (meaning of part of verse 9:103). Giving cleans the heart of greed (wanting to keep everything for yourself), and makes goodness grow: the Prophet ﷺ said that charity never decreases wealth (Muslim 2588). Everything we have comes from Allah. When we give, we thank Him, and we help our brothers and sisters who have less than us. Zakat is not a gift we give only if we feel like it: it is a right of the poor. Ṣadaqa can be given on top of it, as much as we like.

Lessons to draw from it • I share what I have: my snack, my toys, my time. • I give with a smile, without showing off. • I think of children who have less than me, and I thank Allah for what I have.

Key points to remember • Zakat is the third pillar, often named together with prayer (2:43). • Zakat = to purify and to make grow (9:103). • For money: 2.5% a year, for adults who have enough. • Zakat al-fiṭr is given for each person, even children (Bukhari 1503, Muslim 984). • Charity does not decrease wealth (Muslim 2588).

The main message Giving purifies the heart and makes goodness grow: zakat helps the poor, and I can already share through ṣadaqa.