Zakat must reach the right people
“Zakat cannot be completed without knowing who you are giving your zakat to.”
Zakah is a non-negotiable pillar and a trust owed to eligible needy people, so Muslims preparing for Ramadan must calculate it precisely, prioritize appropriate recipients, and verify organizations.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Ramadan preparation begins with fulfilling the zakah obligation to support people in need.
- Zakah is a religious obligation equal in importance to prayer, not merely a civic tax.
- Muslims should calculate 2.5% of qualifying wealth precisely, including investments and resale property but excluding a primary residence.
- The Quranic recipient categories are explained, with priority given to poor people, needy relatives, and the local community.
- The speaker warns listeners to investigate charitable organizations and rejects giving zakah to political campaigns.
In the khateeb's words
“Giving zakah is not like giving a tax. Giving a tax is your civic duty. Giving zakah is your religious obligation.”
“Now, when you give zakah, you can't just give it anywhere to anyone.”
“Zakat cannot be completed without knowing who you are giving your zakat to. You can give all of your money in zakat. But if it's not going to the right person or to the right people, it's not getting counted at all.”
For the dinner table
Ramadan is less than two weeks away, and the imam reminded us that many righteous Muslims of the past paid their zakah in Sha'ban so that poor families would have food for Ramadan. Zakah is a pillar of Islam. In the Qur'an Allah mentions it again and again alongside prayer, and it is an act of worship, not just a tax. It is only two and a half percent of our savings once a year, but we have to calculate it carefully and honestly, because that small share actually belongs to people in need. Allah tells us exactly who can receive zakah, starting with the poor and the needy. We should first help relatives who are struggling, then our local community. The imam also reminded us to check carefully where our zakah goes, so that it truly reaches the people Allah wants it to reach.
- If part of what we have really belongs to people in need, how should that change the way we share?
- Why do you think Allah puts giving zakah right next to praying in the Qur'an?
- Who in our family or community could we help this Ramadan, and how?
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