ABSTRACT
The third pillar of Islam is zakat. The word itself originally simply meant ‘purity’ but it is now the technical term for the Muslim's obligatory annual donation of a fixed percentage of his or her surplus wealth. It is variously translated as ‘poor due’, ‘compulsory charity’ or ‘obligatory alms tax’. This institution should be seen in the context of Islam's stress on the fundamental importance of charitable giving. In the Quran, the god-fearing are defined as those who
believe in the Unseen, establish the ritual prayer and expend of that which We have bestowed upon them… .
(2.3)
