Conditions of Zakat

**1. Islam:** - Not obligatory on disbelievers - Zakat is worship; disbelievers' worship not accepted until they accept Islam - "Nothing prevented their contributions from being accepted except that they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger" [9:54] - Hadith: "The obligatory charity the Prophet made obligatory **on Muslims**" - Note: They will still be accountable for not paying it (according to correct opinion) **2. Freedom:** - Not obligatory on slaves or mukātab (slave paying for freedom) - Slave owns nothing; his property belongs to his master - Mukātab's ownership is weak/incomplete - Zakat obligation falls on the master **3. Ownership of Nisab:** - Must own the minimum threshold (nisab) for each type of wealth - Must be **complete ownership** (stable, established) - Must be **beyond basic necessities** (food, clothing, shelter) - Zakat is meant to help the poor, so only taken from true surplus **4. Passage of One Lunar Year (Hawl):** - **Hadith:** "No Zakat on wealth until a year passes over it" [Ibn Majah] - Applies to: Livestock, gold/silver, trade goods - Does NOT apply to: Crops, fruits, minerals, rikaz (due on harvest/acquisition) **Zakat on Debts:** - If owed by insolvent person: pay Zakat for one year when collected - If owed by solvent person: pay Zakat for every year (as if in possession) **Two Types of Zakat:** 1. Zakat al-Mal (wealth) - covered in this chapter 2. Zakat al-Fitr (body) - covered separately