What’s the difference between Zakat and Sadaqah?

At National Zakat Foundation, our mission is to educate, calculate, collect, and distribute Zakat, but we also collect Sadaqah. What is Zakat? What is Sadaqah? And what is the NZF policy on the two forms of charity? Let’s begin with Zakat!

Zakat is the obligatory annual charity that is due on every able-bodied, sane Muslim. If they meet the eligibility criteria of Zakat (also known as Nisab), it is 2.5% of their total wealth that is given to certain categories of needy people in our community. Zakat is a right of the poor, a pillar of faith, and purification for one’s wealth. Not paying it is a major sin that, according to some scholars, puts a Muslim outside the fold of Islam and it can be a source of severe punishment in the hereafter.

Sadaqah, on the other hand, is voluntary charity. Sadaqah is a source of forgiveness, of earning rewards, of acceptance of Duas (prayers), of shade on the Day of Judgement, and of many other benefits. Sadaqah can take many forms. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Every Muslim has to give in Sadaqah (charity).” The people asked, “O Allah’s Messenger, if someone has nothing to give, what will he do?” He (PBUH) said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked, “If he cannot do even that?” He (PBUH) replied, “Then he should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked, “If he cannot do that?” He (PBUH) replied, “Then he should perform all that is good and keep away from all that is evil and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.” [Bukhari] From this we learn that essentially any act of goodness can be considered an act of Sadaqah, which would mean that Zakat is a category of Sadaqah. Now that it’s clear how different the two forms of charity are from each other, let’s talk about NZF’s approach to each.

When it comes to Zakat, we have a strict approach to it. We have an education, calculation, and collection system set in place so people know the importance of giving Zakat, they have the tools to calculate their Zakat, and they can get their Zakat to the right people through authentic and reliable means. As for distribution, we stick to the well-defined Islamic guidelines on where Zakat should be given and who is most deserving of receiving Zakat funds. This means that we distribute Zakat locally, according to the agreed view of the four major schools of thought, and we mainly give that Zakat to only two of the eight categories of people; the poor and the needy. As for Sadaqah, we make sure it is kept separately. The Zakat and Sadaqah do not mix and we make sure that the Sadaqah is used efficiently and authentically in the way of Allah.To donate, please visit https://nzfcanada.com/donate/

Written by: Areej H.