The Zakah Committee of Central Florida wishes to inform our community about the important obligation of zakah. Every Muslim should know that zakah is not the same as general sadaqa or a contribution that you give when you like, to whomever you like, and with no minimum or maximum specified.

ZAKAH is very specific, and it is subject to the following rules:

• Zakah is to be paid annually every lunar year, preferably in Ramadan.
• Zakah is a fixed percentage (2.5% for cash, gold, and business net worth), (5% for farm products watered artificially), (10% for farm products watered by rain), and (20% for minerals and earth treasures.)
• Zakah must be paid to the local Zakah Committee in the locality where someone lives and works.
• The Zakah Committee cannot transfer zakah to another location except, after satisfying the local needs.
• Zakah must be spent locally to the 8 categories as specified in the Quran (9:60)

Some people may consider the donations and taxes they pay during the year as part or substitute for paying zakah. The lack of awareness about the rules governing this I'badah, may cause us to fall short of fulfilling its intended purpose. Therefore, the following is not considered payment of zakah, and will require paying zakah in order to fulfill its intended obligation.

1. Paying donations during the year to the Masjid or other causes.
2. Paying taxes to any government.
3. Sending money to needy relatives in other cities or overseas.
4. Sending money to relief organizations.

Allah (s.w.t.) says in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 177:
" It is not righteousness to face East or West, but righteousness is to believe in Allah and the Last Day, the angels, the Book and the Prophets, and to give money for His love to your relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, the beggars and to ransom a slave. To establish Salah and pay Zakah, and those who fulfill their promises, and endure with fortitude, hardship and peril, those are true in their faith, and those are the pious."

Scholars explain that in the above Ayah, Allah (s.w.t.) made a clear distinction between general sadaqa which is given to one's relatives, orphans, etc., and the obligation of paying the zakah along with establishing the salah. Scholars further explain that zakah is the portion of our wealth that belongs to the poor and the needy of our community. We have no right to dispose of it, as we like, rather we must pay it to the Zakah collectors for distribution to its rightful recipients. The evidence is in the following Ayah. Allah (s.w.t.) says while describing the believers in Surah Az~Zariat (51), Ayah 19: " And in their wealth is legal claim for the needy who asked and the deprived." Therefore, it is not justifiable to send our zakah outside when there are families in need and deprived right here in our community.

Meaning: The term Zakah is derived from the Arabic root meaning, "to increase," "to purify," "to bless."

3rd Pillar: Zakah is the third pillar of Islam. Allah (s.w.t.) commanded it along with Salat in 82 Ayaat in the Quran. The Prophet (s) commanded it in many of his Hadiths, and the consensus of the scholars of Islam of all times emphasized its obligatory nature.

Who Collects and distributes Zakah?
On page 76 of his famous book, FIQH us~SUNNAH, volume III, As~Sayyid Sabiq reports that: "The Messenger of Allah used to send his authorized agents to collect zakah. He would then distribute it among the deserving people. Abu Bakr and Umar did the same." Some people may argue that the leaders today are not as good as Abu Bakr and Umar, and question whether zakah should be collected by them? The Prophet (s) answered this question in the Hadith related by Bukhari and Muslim. Ibn Mas'ud reported that the Prophet (s) said: "After me, there will be selfishness and you will deny obligations." They said: "O Messenger of Allah! What do you command us to do?" He answered: " Pay the due which is upon you and ask Allah what is right for you."

Transfer of Zakah:
The jurists stressed that zakah should be paid in the city where one lives and works. Only in extreme condition can the leaders transfer the zakah to another city after making sure there is surplus over the local need. Here are the positions of the four Mazahib.

• The Hanafi mazhab holds that transferring Zakah is disliked (Makruh).
• The Shaf'i mazhab holds that transferring Zakah is not allowed (Not Ja'eiz).
• Imam Malik holds that transferring of Zakah is not allowed (Not Ja'eiz).
• The Hanbali mazhab holds transferring of Zakah as not allowed (Not Ja'eiz).

The following Hadith support the above positions:
'Amr ibn Shu'aib reported that the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, appointed Mu'az ibn Jabal to a position in Yemen where he remained until after the death of the Prophet(s). Mu'az came back during the time of 'Umar who reappointed him back to Yemen. Mu'az sent to 'Umar one-third of the zakah collected in Yemen. 'Umar turned it back and said: " I did not appoint you to go there as a tax collector or jizyah collector. I appointed you to collect zakah from the rich and then pay it to the poor." Mu'az replied: " I would not have sent you anything if I had found someone deserving over here."

Summary:
Zakah is an obligation like Salah that must be fulfilled by every Muslim. For Zakah to be accepted as I'badah, the Muslim should make the intention (Neyyah), must calculate what is due properly each year, and must pay it to the local Muslim Zakat Committee. The ZCCF is responsible to distribute it to the categories of people that are specified in Surah at~Tawbah, Ayah 60.

May Allah accept our zakah.