Zakat & Ushr

Zakat and Ushr are obligatory forms of charity in Islam, but they apply to different kinds of wealth and produce.

Zakat Basics

• The literal meaning of Zakat is 'to purify.'
• Zakat was made obligatory in 2 A.H.
• Zakat is the fourth pillar of Islam.
• For cows, Zakat becomes essential once an owner possesses thirty (30) cows.
• The Nisab (minimum threshold) of Zakat for gold is 7½ Tola.
• The Nisab of Zakat for silver is 52½ Tola.
• The Nisab of Zakat on camels begins at 5 camels.
• There are two types of Zakat.
• A person who denies the obligation of Zakat is called a Kafir (a disbeliever); one who fails to pay it despite believing it obligatory is called Fasiq.
• Non-Muslims are among the persons who are not eligible to receive Zakat.
• The word 'Zakat' has been mentioned 32 times in the Holy Quran.
• Surah Al-Tauba mentions eight ways of distributing Zakat (the eight categories of recipients).
• Zakat is given to categories that include the poor, needy, and descendants of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) are notably excluded/restricted from receiving general Zakat.

Ushr Basics

• The literal meaning of Ushr is 'the tenth part.'
• Ushr is the charity due on agricultural produce.
• If a garden's fruit is sold while still unripe, the buyer of the garden is responsible for paying the Ushr.
• The word 'Ushr' belongs to the Arabic language.
• The rate of Zakat on honey obtained from a forest is ten percent.
• Ushr on produce can be paid either in kind (produce) or in price — both are valid.
• Ushr is essentially a kind of Zakat that applies to the produce of land.
• For land irrigated naturally (by rain), Ushr is payable once a year at the full tenth; for land irrigated by artificial means (canal), it is payable at half the rate — the twentieth part.