Brilio.net - Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam that must be fulfilled by every Muslim who is able. The obligation to pay zakat is not only a form of obedience to Allah SWT, but also a form of social concern for others. With zakat, the wealth owned by a Muslim becomes cleaner, blessed, and can help ease the burden of those in need. As one of the important pillars in Islam, zakat is an important instrument in building welfare and social justice in society.
However, not everyone understands that zakat has different types. Many only know zakat fitrah, which is issued before Eid al-Fitr, but there are actually several types of zakat that must be known and understood. Each type of zakat has different rules and uses, so it is important for Muslims to understand the various types of zakat that exist so that they can fulfill them according to religious guidance.
This article, brilio.net will discuss in depth the various types of zakat that every Muslim must know, collected from various sources, Tuesday (10/9). Let's see the explanation.
Types of zakat
1. Zakat fitrah.
Zakat fitrah is the most well-known zakat among Muslims because it must be paid every year before Eid al-Fitr. This zakat must be paid by every Muslim individual, be it children, adults, rich, or poor (provided that he still has excess wealth from his needs on that day). The main purpose of zakat fitrah is to purify the soul after undergoing the fasting of Ramadan and as a form of solidarity with those who are less fortunate so that they can celebrate Eid al-Fitr with joy.
The amount of zakat fitrah is usually equivalent to one sha' or around 2.5 kg of staple foods consumed daily, such as rice, wheat, or dates. In addition, zakat fitrah can also be paid in the form of money with a value equivalent to the price of the staple food. By paying zakat fitrah, a Muslim not only purifies himself, but also helps meet the food needs of the underprivileged community.
2. Zakat on wealth.
Zakat maal is zakat that must be paid from a person's wealth, including money, gold, silver, stocks, property, business results, and inheritance. This zakat must be paid if the assets have reached the nisab, which is the minimum limit of assets subject to zakat, and have been owned for one year (haul). The amount of nisab zakat maal is usually calculated based on the value of gold, and if the assets have reached the nisab, then the zakat paid is 2.5 percent of the total assets.
The purpose of zakat maal is to cleanse and increase the blessing of wealth. By paying zakat maal, a Muslim realizes that part of his wealth belongs to others who are entitled to receive it, such as the poor, orphans, and those in need. In zakat maal, the types of wealth that are zakatable are very broad, including agricultural products, trade, investment, and others.
3. Agricultural zakat.
Agricultural zakat is zakat paid from agricultural harvests. The types of agricultural products that must be given zakat include grain, fruit and plants that can be stored and become staple foods, such as rice, corn and wheat. This zakat must be paid when the harvest reaches the nisab, which is equivalent to 653 kg of staple food.
The amount of agricultural zakat that must be paid depends on the irrigation method used in agriculture. If the agricultural land is irrigated by rainwater or natural river flow, then the zakat that must be paid is 10 percent of the harvest. However, if agriculture requires additional costs such as artificial irrigation, the amount of zakat is 5 percent. Agricultural zakat must be paid immediately after the harvest is done without having to wait for a one-year haul.
4. Trade zakat.
Trade zakat is zakat imposed on assets invested in trade or business activities. For traders or entrepreneurs, zakat is required on the assets traded if they reach the nisab and last for one year. The nisab for trading zakat is the same as the nisab for gold, which is around 85 grams of gold, and the zakat that must be paid is 2.5 percent of the total trading assets owned.
Assets included in trade zakat include merchandise, business capital, and profits earned from business. By paying trade zakat, a businessman not only cleanses his assets, but also shows social concern for others, especially for groups in need of financial assistance.
5. Livestock zakat.
Livestock zakat is imposed on livestock that are kept, such as cows, goats, sheep, and camels. This zakat has special rules regarding the minimum number of livestock (nisab) owned and the type of livestock that is subject to zakat. For example, for goat zakat, the nisab is 40 goats, and the zakat that must be paid is one goat. For cows, the nisab is 30, and the zakat that must be paid is one cow.
The purpose of livestock zakat is to cleanse the wealth obtained from raising livestock, while also helping those in need by giving the livestock as zakat. This zakat also shows that Islam does not only regulate property in the form of money or goods, but also includes all forms of wealth owned by a Muslim.