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Charity is a fundamental pillar of the Islamic faith, and two terms constantly appear in the Muslim's vocabulary: sadaqah and zakat. Although both concepts share the idea of giving to others, they differ considerably in their nature, rules and practice.
Zakat: a mandatory pillar of Islam
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It is mandatory for every Muslim whose wealth exceeds a minimum threshold called the nissab for a full lunar year. The amount is fixed at 2.5% of eligible wealth.
﷽« Zakah expenditures are only for the poor, for the needy, for those employed to collect it, for bringing hearts together, for freeing captives, for those in debt, for the cause of Allah and for the stranded traveller. »
— Surah At Tawbah, verse 60
Sadaqah: generosity without limits
Sadaqah, on the other hand, is entirely voluntary. There is no imposed amount, no specific period and no wealth threshold required. Everyone can give sadaqah, whether rich or modest.
The main differences summarised
- Obligation: zakat is mandatory for those who meet the conditions, sadaqah is voluntary
- Amount: zakat follows a precise percentage (2.5%), sadaqah has no fixed amount
- Frequency: zakat is calculated annually, sadaqah can be given at any time
- Recipients: zakat is reserved for 8 specific categories, sadaqah can be given to anyone
- Form: zakat is purely financial, sadaqah can be an act, a word or a smile
Zakat purifies your wealth. Sadaqah purifies your heart. Both are complementary in the life of a Muslim.
