Zakat al-mal is one of the most significant religious rituals in Islam, representing not just a financial obligation but carrying deep religious and humanitarian values.
This article discusses the zakat al-mal of employees, its Sharia rulings, and its positive effects on Muslims and the poor.
Ruling on Zakat Al-Mal from Monthly Salary
The basis of zakat is the surplus money beyond a Muslim’s need, reaching the nisab (minimum amount). Once the nisab is reached and a full lunar year has passed, zakat becomes obligatory on this wealth.
Thus, the monthly salary is zakatable if a Muslim saves money from it and the savings reach the nisab. If the salary does not cover basic living expenses, no zakat is due.
Nisab for Monthly Salary Zakat
The nisab for zakat al-mal is equivalent to the value of 85 grams of gold after completing the lunar year of saving it upon reaching the nisab.
Accordingly, the nisab for monthly salary zakat is this value, and its zakat is calculated at “one-quarter of a tenth,” which is 2.5% of the total amount.
How an Employee Should Disburse His Zakat
Disbursing zakat from the monthly salary is obligatory when a Muslim with a limited income starts saving part of his salary, and a complete lunar year has passed on it.
For ease of calculating zakat on the total monthly salaries, it should be calculated in one month for all his wealth.
For example, he could calculate the zakat for all his wealth in the month of Muharram. The wealth that has completed a lunar year is where zakat is obligatory, and the remainder is calculated if it has not yet completed a year by including it with the rest of his wealth. This is an accepted practice in Islam to expedite the disbursement of zakat.
Calculating Zakat al-mal on Saved Salary
The easy way to calculate the zakat on saved money from the monthly salary is to determine the month or day when the saved money reached the nisab. After a lunar year of possession, the Muslim must pay zakat on all his saved money from the salary.
The saved money that has completed a year would have its zakat disbursed, while the money saved after specifying the month would have its zakat disbursed in advance. It is permissible in Islam to advance the disbursement of zakat.
Masarat Initiative for Education and Rehabilitation in Northern Syria
The efforts of the Masarat Initiative for free education all aim to play a fundamental role in securing equal educational opportunities for all children in northern Syria, following their suffering from poverty, displacement, and the impact of wars.
Masarat Initiative has established an integrated educational system aimed at developing individuals to face all aspects of academic and professional life through paths it offers to enhance students’ proficiency.
By donating to children and youth, you can contribute to developing and enhancing their educational opportunities, thereby raising awareness about the importance of education in building a secure future for them.
Contribute to be a helping hand always for the needy students in northern Syria.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “You will not spend anything seeking the face of Allah but you will be rewarded for it, even what you put in your wife’s mouth.” Therefore, spending for the pleasure of Allah is good for you in this world and the hereafter, and through it, Allah will facilitate every difficult matter for you.
