Understanding the Definition of Zakat Fitrah and Mal, Understand the Law and Requirements

Kapanlagi.com - Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam. It means that paying zakat is a requirement for every capable Muslim. The definition of zakat is a certain amount of wealth that must be distributed by Muslims to those who are entitled to receive it.

As a mandatory act of worship, zakat certainly has various virtues and merits for those who perform it. Therefore, it is important to understand the true meaning of zakat. By doing so, we can understand the deeper meaning of the zakat that we pay.

Zakat is one of the mandatory acts of worship in Islam. Therefore, in addition to understanding the meaning of zakat, it is also important to know the laws, types, and requirements of zakat. So that the zakat we give will be accepted by Allah SWT.

Therefore, read the following discussion about the ins and outs of zakat that have been summarized from various sources.

1. Understanding the Definition of Zakat

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If we look at the origin of the word, zakat comes from the Arabic word 'zaka' which means pure, good, blessed, growing, and developing. That is why the understanding of zakat is often interpreted as an act of worship that can purify oneself and one's possessions. This is as stated in the following verse from Allah SWT:

"Take zakat from their wealth to purify and sanctify them" (Quran, Surah At-Taubah, verse 103).

That is why zakat becomes one of the most important acts of worship and is included in the fourth pillar of Islam. Zakat is not only beneficial for those who perform it, but also for others. With zakat, the basic needs of the community who are in difficulty can be fulfilled. This means that indirectly, zakat can bring prosperity to the Muslim community.

2. Zakat Law

After understanding the meaning of zakat, Muslims are obliged to know the law of zakat. As mentioned earlier, zakat is a mandatory worship for Muslims. However, the obligatory zakat law will only apply if the conditions are met. The conditions include referring to what is conveyed in the following hadith:

Narrated by the companion of Prophet Muhammad, Ibn Umar "The Prophet obligated zakat al-fitr of one sha' of dates or one sha' of barley upon the slave and the free person, male and female, children and adults, from the Muslim community and he ordered that zakat al-fitr be given before the people depart to perform the prayer."

3. Types of Zakat

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Broadly speaking, zakat is divided into two types, namely zakat fitrah and zakat mal. It is necessary for every Muslim to understand and comprehend the differences between zakat fitrah and zakat mal. Because they have many differences, starting from the time to the payment procedure. Here is an explanation of both types of zakat.

1. Zakat Fitrah
The definition of zakat fitrah is the obligatory zakat that must be paid by financially able Muslims. Zakat fitrah is paid specifically, once a year, which is during the month of Ramadan before the Eid al-Fitr celebration. Paying zakat fitrah is believed to purify oneself, as well as perfecting the one-month fasting worship that has been performed before.

Zakat fitrah is paid in the form of daily staple food. For example, in Indonesia, the staple food is rice, so the amount of one sha' of zakat fitrah is equivalent to 2.5-2.7 kg of rice.

The conditions for Muslims who are required to pay fitrah are as follows.

1) Being a Muslim.

2) Being free.

3) Experiencing the month of Ramadan and Syawal.

4) Having excess basic necessities for the night and morning of Eid al-Fitr

2. Zakat Mal
The second type of zakat is zakat mal. The definition of zakat mal is the obligatory zakat that must be paid by financially able Muslims because they have reached the nisab (minimum threshold). Unlike zakat fitrah, which purifies the soul, zakat mal is used to purify wealth. In addition, another difference between zakat fitrah and mal lies in the type of wealth being paid. Zakat mal is paid with wealth, such as money.

In addition, zakat mal also has several requirements for those who are obligated to pay it. These requirements include:

1) Being a Muslim.

2) Being free.

3) Being mature and sane.

4) Reaching the nishab.

5) The ownership of the wealth has reached haul or has been owned for one year.

6) The wealth has the potential to increase or grow.

7) Full ownership, meaning that the wealth being zakat is truly owned by the person who intends to pay zakat.

4. Recipients of Zakat

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It turns out that the zakat given by Muslims cannot be distributed arbitrarily. Because in Islam, the people who are eligible to receive zakat have been determined. There are at least 8 groups who are eligible to receive zakat. These eight groups are as follows.

1. Fakir, which is a group of people who have almost no wealth, so they cannot fulfill their basic daily needs.

2. Miskin, which is a group of people who have little wealth, but the existing wealth is still not enough to meet their basic needs.

3. Hamba sahaya, which is a group of slaves or people who are not yet free.

4. Ibnu sabil, which is a group of people who are traveling for the sake of piety in the way of Allah, and experience a lack of money or expenses.

5. Fisabilillah, which is a group of people who strive and rely on Allah's path.

6. Gharimin, which is a group of people who have debts to meet their daily needs, but are unable to pay off their debts. However, with the condition that the debt is intended to buy halal basic needs.

7. Mualaf, which is a group of people who have just embraced Islam, so they are considered to need assistance in adjusting.

8. Amil, which is a group of people who are tasked with collecting and distributing zakat.

Those are some of the explanations regarding the understanding of zakat, may it be beneficial and increase knowledge and faith as a Muslim.

(kpl/psp)