Zakat and khums

• Zakah


  Charity, a directive from Qur'an, a religious obligation that allows you to purify your wealth
• Wealth


  On loan from God, so some should be used to help others
• A sum of 2.5% is paid on income and savings to the mosque for distribution for community causes
• To help each other


  Is to help God
• Giving should be done willingly as God knows all intentions
• Khums


  Means 'a fifth' (or 20 per cent) in Arabic, the sixth of the Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam, a tax paid on any profit earned by Shi'a Muslims
• Recipients of khums


  • Descendants of Muhammad
  • Education projects
  • Those within the Shi'a Islamic faith
  • Those in need
• The benefits (importance) of giving zakah include:

  • To purify and cleanse your wealth - giving makes the remaining money 'clean'

  • Sharing the blessings of wealth with others prevents greed - moral development

  • Money benefits both giver and receiver - the giver will receive a hundred-fold back in the afterlife and they should also feel the satisfaction of giving

  • If everyone gave zakah then there would be no poor in the world - stewardship

  • Fulfils your religious duty and obligation - 3rd pillar of Islam
• Importance of Khums

  • Gives special recognition to Muhammad, his descendants and leaders within Shi'a Islam
  • Used to help build Islamic schools or projects chosen by Shi'a leaders
  • Helps those in need
  • Promotes Islam through education
  • 1 of the 10 Obligatory Acts