“And establish prayer and give Zakat, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah.”

(2:110, Qur’an)

Charity takes centre stage at every Muslim household and so does Zakat in the month of Ramadan, and even throughout the year. Zakat is not just obligatory charity, it an act of worship and an act of service to humanity. Through Zakat, the more fortunate segment of the society connects with the less fortunate to bridge the gaps between them – gaps that reflect poverty and unequal distribution of resources and wealth.

According to the Hanafi madhab, zakat is 2.5% of wealth that has been in one’s possession for a lunar year. If wealth amounts to less than a threshold figure, termed the nisab, then no Zakat is payable. If wealth amounts to more than the nisab, zakat becomes obligatory. Zakat has to be paid on gold, silver, merchandise for owned businesses, cash in bank account, cattle and crops. You must pay Zakat on the items listed above if they have been in your possession for a year. You do not have to pay it on your personal items that do not bring you wealth, such as your vehicles, clothes, shelter or food.

As per the instructions in the Quran, FRDP International spends Zakat to improve the lives of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities through various programs from food security, water, to taking care of their basic needs, such as access to health, such as improving their livelihood.