Zakah & Hajj
Zakah — Almsgiving
Zakah is the third pillar of Islam and means “purification” or “growth.” By giving away a portion of their wealth, Muslims purify what remains and acknowledge that all wealth ultimately belongs to Allah. It is not considered charity in the voluntary sense — it is a compulsory duty for every Muslim whose savings exceed a minimum threshold called the nisab.
Muslims must give 2.5% of their annual savings above the nisab threshold. The Qur’an specifies eight categories of people who may receive Zakah, including the poor, the needy, those in debt, and travellers in difficulty (Qur’an 9:60).
Origins and Purpose
Zakah has its origins in the Qur’an and the practice of the Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an links prayer and charity repeatedly: “Establish prayer and pay Zakah” (Qur’an 2:43). This shows that worship of God and care for others are inseparable in Islam. The purpose of Zakah is threefold: it purifies the giver from greed and selfishness, it supports those in genuine need, and it reduces inequality within the ummah.
For the giver: Zakah purifies wealth by removing attachment to material possessions. It reminds Muslims that everything they own is a trust from Allah and develops generosity and compassion. Muslims believe that giving Zakah brings spiritual reward and protects them on the Day of Judgement.
For the recipient: Zakah provides essential support for the poor, the sick, travellers in need and those in debt. It helps prevent extreme poverty and ensures basic needs are met. The Qur’an identifies eight specific categories of recipient (9:60), ensuring money reaches those who need it most.
For the community: Zakah reduces the gap between rich and poor, creating a more just and equal society. It strengthens social bonds within the ummah because the wealthy are directly responsible for supporting the vulnerable. In some Muslim-majority countries, Zakah is collected and distributed by the state.
Khums means “one fifth” and is an additional financial duty unique to Shi’a Islam. Shi’a Muslims pay 20% of their surplus income (after living expenses) each year. Half of the Khums goes to Sayyids (descendants of the Prophet) and half to religious scholars and institutions. Khums is one of the Ten Obligatory Acts and reflects the Shi’a emphasis on supporting the Prophet’s family and the religious leadership.
Zakah (2.5% of savings) is paid by all Muslims, while Khums (20% of surplus income) is an additional duty for Shi’a Muslims. Both serve the purpose of social justice and redistributing wealth, but Khums also supports the Prophet’s descendants and Shi’a religious institutions.
Hajj — Pilgrimage to Makkah
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. Every Muslim who is physically and financially able must make the pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lifetime. Hajj takes place during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah and attracts more than 1.5 million Muslims from around the world each year. The Qur’an states: “Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by people who are able to undertake it” (Qur’an 3:97).
Origins
Hajj traces its origins to the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). Muslims believe that Ibrahim and his son Isma’il built the Ka’aba as the first house of worship dedicated to the one true God. Many of the rituals performed during Hajj commemorate events from Ibrahim’s life — his willingness to sacrifice his son, his wife Hajar’s search for water, and his rejection of Satan’s temptations.
How Hajj is Performed
Hajj lasts five to six days and involves a series of rituals at sacred sites in and around Makkah. Before beginning, pilgrims enter a state of ihram — they wear simple white garments (two unstitched cloths for men), symbolising equality before God. All distinctions of wealth, status and nationality are stripped away.
Tawaf: Pilgrims walk around the Ka’aba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction. This represents the unity of Muslims in worshipping one God. The Ka’aba is believed to be directly below God’s throne in heaven.
Sa’i: Pilgrims walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, re-enacting Hajar’s desperate search for water for her son Isma’il. This commemorates God’s provision of the Zamzam well.
Arafat: Pilgrims travel to the plain of Arafat and stand in prayer and reflection from noon to sunset. This is considered the most important ritual of Hajj — the Prophet Muhammad said: “Hajj is Arafat.” It represents standing before God on the Day of Judgement.
Muzdalifah: After sunset at Arafat, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah where they pray, rest under the open sky, and collect pebbles for the next day’s ritual.
Mina — Stoning the Pillars: At Mina, pilgrims throw pebbles at three stone pillars representing the places where Ibrahim rejected Satan’s temptations. This symbolises the Muslim’s rejection of evil and temptation in their own life.
Sacrifice: An animal (usually a sheep or goat) is sacrificed at Mina, commemorating Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The meat is distributed to the poor. This coincides with the festival of Id-ul-Adha celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
The key stages of Hajj include Tawaf (circling the Ka’aba), Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwa), standing at Arafat, collecting pebbles at Muzdalifah, stoning the pillars at Mina, and animal sacrifice. Each ritual commemorates events from the life of Ibrahim and symbolises key aspects of Muslim faith.