30 Masjids 🟩

“Annual reminder that Zakat is not “charity” but a Wealth-Tax that must be paid (even by children) Lunar-Annually if a certain threshhold is met (Nisab).

It is a “Return of Wealth” to the Community.

Other conditions apply.

There are many simple online Zakat calculators.

As is the case with any act of worship,

intention in paying Zakat matters,

but that does not mean we can neglect the rules.

Of course,

there are different, valid interpretations of the rules,

so don’t get bogged down in debates,

but commit to continued learning over time.

Remember you can give directly to individual Muslims who don’t have enough for rent or groceries,

or to pay debts,

including tuition payments.

You can make a big impact with a relatively small transfer of wealth to an individual.

Ask a scholar if you are unsure who is eligible 🌙

Zakat does not have to be paid in Ramadan,

but it has become customary for many because it is an easy way to ensure you pay in a timely manner (Lunar Annually) and because Ramadan is a time of added blessings 🌙

While Zakat is obligatory and its collection & distribution is regulated by the Sacred Law,

charity is mostly unrestricted as long as what you are giving is good & for a good reason.

Giving charity is liberating as it loosens the grip of a scarcity-minset on the giver 🌙

Giving charity has many, many unseen blessings.

And in Ramadan even more.

Give generously to one or more of the many wonderful charitable organizations helping to uplift our communities 🌙”

— By Dr. Ingrid Mattson