In general, there are only two kinds of zakat: zakat fitrah and zakat mal. However, recently professional zakat or income zakat has become popular and is more or less considered different from zakat mal, let alone zakat fitrah. So, how many kinds of zakat are there in Islamic law? Let’s see the explanation below!
Types of Zakat
The types of zakat that have been widely recognized by Muslims are zakat fitrah and zakat mal only. In fact, there are other types of zakat, namely income zakat or professional zakat. Therefore, today zakat is divided into three types, namely zakat fitrah, zakat mal, and zakat income.
Zakat Fitrah
Definition
Zakat al-fitr, which is also commonly referred to as body zakat or soul zakat, is zakat that is obligatory upon all Muslims, regardless of gender, personal status, socio-economic status, and age. Zakat al-fitr is obligatory upon them as long as they are alive and see the month of Ramadan. This means that zakat al-fitr must be paid once a year, every Ramadan.
Why is it obligatory to pay zakat fitrah? Because zakat fitrah has three functions. First, zakat fitrah as an act of worship, to get closer to Allah by obeying His commands. Second, zakat fitrah functions as a purifier of the soul, which is to cleanse oneself from shortcomings during fasting, such as inappropriate speech or wrong actions. Third, zakat fitrah is for the welfare of society or social function. By paying zakat fitrah, we have provided sufficiency to the poor before Eid al-Fitr.
Read also: Easy Way to Pay Income Zakat, Your Zakat Can Be Picked Up!
Dalil of Zakat Fitrah
“And establish the prayer, pay the zakat, and bow with those who bow.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 43)
“Take zakat from some of their wealth, with which you cleanse and purify them and pray for them. Indeed, your prayers will give them peace of mind. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (QS. At-Taubah: 103)
These words of Allah Swt above are the basis of the law that zakat is obligatory, including zakat fitrah. Meanwhile, the obligation of zakat al-fitr on all Muslims who are able to pay it regardless of gender and age is based on the following hadith:
“Yahya ibn Muhammad ibn as-Sakam reported to us from Muhammad ibn Jahdham, from Isma’il ibn Ja’far, from ‘Umar ibn Nafi’, from his father that Ibn ‘Umar said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined zakat al-fitr of one saa’ of dates or one saa’ of wheat on all Muslims, free and slave, male and female, young and old alike. He ordered it to be paid before the people went to the Eid prayer.” (Al-Bukhari)
Time of Expenditure
Zakat al-fitr is to be paid every Ramadan until Eid. It can be paid as early as the beginning of Ramadan and as late as before the Eid prayer on 1 Shawwal. Similarly, zakat-ul-fitr must be distributed no later than the Eid prayer.
There are also key times to pay zakat al-fitr. The first is after sunset on the last day of Ramadan until the Fajr prayer on Eid. Secondly, the most important time to pay zakat-ul-fitr is after the Fajr prayer on Eid until the Khatib takes the pulpit during the Eid prayer.
Read also: How to Calculate Zakat on Gold, Terms, and Nisab
Types and Amount of Zakat Fitrah
The Prophet has determined the amount of zakat al-fitr that must be paid in Ramadan, which is 1 sha’ of dates or wheat. Sha’ itself is a measurement for measuring, not a measure of weight on the scales. The measure of 1 sha’ is equivalent to 4 mud, where 1 mud is equal to 1 full coverage of 2 palms combined. So, 1 sha’ is 4 times the mud. When measured by the scales, approximately 1 saa’ is equal to 2.7 kilograms.
“Abu Sa’id al-Khudri said: ‘At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), we gave zakat al-fitr in the amount of one saa’ of food, or one saa’ of dates, or one saa’ of raisins.’ Then at the time of Muawiyah, when Sham wheat flour came, he said: ‘I think this mud (wheat flour) is equal to 2 mud (dates)’.” (HR Al-Bukhari)
Based on the above Hadith, the payment of zakat al-fitr during the Prophet’s time was with staple foods, such as dates, wheat, raisins, and so on. This is also confirmed in another hadith, as follows:
“Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) enjoined zakat al-fitr on one saa’ of dates or one saa’ of wheat for the slave and the free, for men and women, for children and adults among the Muslims. He ordered it to be paid before the people went to the Eid prayer.” (HR: Bukhari and Muslim)
The staple food does not have to be the same as mentioned in the above Hadith. For regions or countries where the staple food is not dates, wheat, etc., it may be changed and adjusted. The Maliki and Shafi’i madhhabs allow paying zakat al-fitr with other staple foods, such as rice, corn, sago, and others.
Nowadays, many Muslims choose to pay zakat fitrah with money. The amount of money is adjusted to the size of 1 saa’ at the time of the Prophet. For the law of whether it is permissible to pay zakat with money, Dompet Dhuafa has discussed it in the following article: The Law of Paying Zakat Fitrah with Money According to the Scholars.
Zakat Mal
Definition
In the book Fathul Mu’in written by Ahmad Zainuddin Alfannani, zakat mal is zakat that must be issued from property owned. These assets have various objects. Starting from gold, silver, animals, plants, to commerce.
In other words, zakat mal is zakat imposed on certain types of assets that must be issued at certain times.
Types of Zakat Mal
The discussion about zakat mal is very broad, because there are many types of assets that are subject to this zakat object. Based on Law Number 23 Year 2011 on Zakat Management Article 4 paragraph 2, there are 9 types of zakat mal:
- Gold, silver, and other precious metals
- Money and other securities
- Commerce
- Agriculture, plantation, and forestry
- Livestock and fisheries
- Mining
- Industry
- Income and services
- Rikaz (found treasure)
Read also: Spreading Zakat Fitrah Creates Radiant Smiles
Dalil of Zakat on Income
“O you who believe, spend (in the way of Allah) some of what you have earned and some of what We bring forth from the earth for you. And choose not that which is bad, and spend of it, when you would not take it except by straining your eyes against it. And know that Allah is All-Rich, All-Praised.”
(QS. Al-Baqarah: 267)
The key words that make zakaah on income obligatory in the verse above are the words min thayyibati ma-kasabtum which means from your good or halal and quality business. The word kasab, which can be interpreted as an economic endeavor, in modern times has a wide scope or scope, covering the world of work, business, and services at once. This includes expertise in various fields. For example, sports, arts, and so on, as long as they are categorized as halal or at least permissible according to Sharia law. (RQA)