Zakat is the obligatory charitable payment that forms the third pillar of Islam.
The word zakat is associated with purification and growth. It is a religious duty on qualifying wealth, intended to support eligible recipients and strengthen social responsibility. The Qur’an frequently mentions zakat alongside prayer, showing how worship and community obligations are connected.
Zakat is different from sadaqah, which is voluntary charity and can include money, goods, or acts of kindness. The amount due depends on the type and value of assets, the length of ownership, and applicable legal interpretations. A common modern rule for qualifying monetary wealth is 2.5 percent after it has remained above the nisab threshold for a lunar year.
Muslims may calculate and distribute zakat through local organizations or directly to eligible recipients. Agricultural produce, livestock, commercial goods, and precious metals can have different rules, so details vary among schools of Islamic law.