Questions of An American Muslim/6

Question 6

How much Zakat does an American has to pay? And to whom? And how can he calculate the Zakat from his monthly salary?

Answer: There is no Zakat on monthly salary but we should remember that there is another law of taxation in Islam by the name of Khums. Since America is basically an industrial and trading society mostly Zakat is not payable on the excess savings but Khums is payable by them. One who gets a monthly salary and Khums is applicable on his income, it is necessary for him to calculate his yearly income and deduct his yearly expenses. Whatever is the balance amount is taxable for Khums. That is he has to pay 1/5 of this in Islamic treasury.

We should remember that it is necessary that half of this 20% has to be given to poor sayyids who are deprived from Islamic Zakat and the remaining half has to be spent in Islamic benefits by the permission of the Just Mujtahid.

One who gets a monthly salary can also divide the Khums amount and pay it every month.

Philosophy of Islamic Laws:Ayatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi, Ayatullah Jafar Subhani