It is well known that during Ramadan, three types of financial worship are primarily performed: zakat, fidya, and fitr. Below we provide information about these acts of worship once again.
The Qur'an states that zakat is given to eight categories of people: "Indeed, charitable offerings are only for the poor, the needy, those who work upon it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, [freeing] slaves, those in debt, in the cause of Allah, and the traveler — an obligation from Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise" (Surah At-Tawbah, verse 60).
Let us examine this matter in more detail:
1. The poor (faqir) — those who have enough for food, drink, and clothing, but whose wealth does not reach the nisab.
2. The needy (miskin) — the destitute, those in dire poverty;
3. Zakat collectors. This category is essentially absent in our country today;
4. Those whose hearts are to be reconciled to Islam. Today, giving zakat to people of other faiths for the purpose of inviting them to Islam is considered excessive and has been discontinued;
5. Freeing slaves. As slavery no longer exists today, this category is also absent;
6. Those unable to repay their debts — debtors burdened by debt;
7. Those in the cause of Allah. Some scholars interpret that giving zakat to students of knowledge is considered in the cause of Allah;
8. Travelers. A traveler may be wealthy in their homeland but, while traveling, may lack the means to return home. Therefore, zakat may be given to them. Today, due to the coronavirus pandemic, borders, cities, enterprises, and educational institutions were closed, and thousands of our compatriots abroad were left jobless and without funds. At such times, the zakat of wealthy Muslims would undoubtedly be of great help to them.
ZAKAT
Zakat is one of the pillars of our religion — a mandatory financial act of worship for free, sane, adult Muslim persons whose wealth has reached the nisab for one full year. The nisab amount is announced annually by the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan based on the price of gold. Accordingly, the average price of 1 gram of gold and the nisab amount in recent years are as follows:Year |
Gold price (1 gram) | Nisab amount |
2018 | 188,235 so'm | 16,000,000 so'm |
2019 | 200,000 so'm | 17,000,000 so'm |
2020 | 250,000 so'm | 21,250,000 so'm |
2021 | 320,000 so'm | 27,200,000 so'm |
2022 | 400,000 so'm | 34,000,000 so'm |
2023 | 420,000 so'm | 35,700,000 so'm |
| 2024 | 470,588 so'm | 40,000,000 so'm |