3.
4
Zakah and Khums
Question and Answers:
Q1) Describe the features of the payment of khums by Muslims. Give two ways in which
khums can be used.
Ans) Khums literally means “one fifth” or 20% of certain items which a person acquires as
wealth. Khums is a 20% tax that is paid on all items regarded as Ghanimah (booty seized from
war). It is an Islamic fiqh, particularly Imami fiqh paying khums is among the duties that Shias
have paid special attention to.
Khums was originally a proportion of the hauls taken during wars by Muslim armies.
Khums can be used:
to help the poor and needy
for charities that support Islamic education
given to the descendants of Prophet(S) who are in need.
Q2) Explain the importance of Zakah and give two ways in which it can be used.
Ans) Zakah is the third pillar of Islam, which means ‘to purify’ or ‘to cleanse’. It is obligatory to
pay zakah on every person who has certain amount of wealth, whether male or female, old or
young, even sane or insane. Muslims pay zakah so that they don’t get attracted to the
materialistic world and their possessions and also to know that Allah (SWT) is the owner of our
wealth. It is an act of Ibadah and helps to purify our souls and to overcome selfishness and greed.
It leads a Muslim to get reward from Allah (SWT) and declining zakah leads to receiving Allah’s
(swt) punishment in the Akhirah. Zakah is paid once a year on the savings, gold and silver at the
rate of 2.5%. Muslims pay Zakah to earn Allah’s (SWT) pleasure and it is an a kind of worship
in which the rich share their wealth with the poor and thus fair distribution of wealth is ensured.
Zakah can be used in the following ways :
Helping poor and needy.
Zakah can be used to help those in debt.
Zakah may also be used to get the free Muslims, from slavery.
Zakah can also be spent on getting freedom for prisoners and captives held against their will
for unjust reasons.
Q3) “Zakah helps to share wealth within the Muslims ummah and everybody becomes
equal” Assess this statement.
Ans) Zakah provides us opportunity of sharing excess wealth with those less fortunate. We are
encouraged to contribute our wealth to our Muslim brothers and sisters who are poor and needy.
Doing this helps establish equality among the Ummah. It is a form of social security that helps to
narrow the gap between the rich and poor. It gives us the message of sacrifice. A person gains
Allah (swt) blessings by sacrificing his money / wealth in his path.
Q4) “Share your wealth and be thankful as he has provided for you and your family”.
Assess this statement.
Ans) We should always be thankful to Almighty for everything he has blessed us with. All the
things such as wealth, comfort and success are given by Allah (swt). Not everyone in the world
is blessed, but if we are blessed with these things it doesn’t makes us superior than others. We
should be grateful to Allah (swt) and shouldn’t become greedy and selfish. Thus we should share
our wealth with others who are in need. The more we give for the cause of Allah, the more we
will get in return. A true Muslim knows that whatever he has its not because of himself, but
because of Allah (swt) and thus he becomes obedient towards Allah (swt) and will develop the
sense of sharing and caring.
Q5) How does Zakah help with financial stability for all?
Ans) Giving Zakah is a way of purifying our wealth every year. By the payment of zakah the
process of concentration of wealth is checked. The rich share their excess wealth with the one
who is less fortunate and needy. This ensures that no one is having the fear of poverty or hunger,
as everyone gets enough wealth by which they can survive and non-wealthy may get a chance to
enjoy a better life style.
Q6) Is poverty going to be eradicated by Muslims ensuring they give Zakah ?
Ans) Yes, it may happen if all the Muslims who have enough wealth contribute in giving Zakah
to the poor. This way people can eradicate poverty . Zakah means taking the money from and
rich and giving to the poor. Also donating money in charity or any welfare organizations can
help in bringing a change in the society. Every person who is in need might get enough money to
fulfill his / her necessities and no longer live in poverty.
Ayah Questions
Q) List out the people who are eligible for receiving Zakah ?
Ans) The people who are eligible to receive Zakah are :
1) Fuqara
2) Masakin
3) Collector of Zakah
4) Newly converted Muslims
5) Slaves : Pay ransom to their masters to buy their freedom
6) Zakah Funds may be paid to debtors to pay their debts.
7) Zakat Funds may be given to those who are engaged in the way of Allah.
8) Zakat Fund may be given to wayfarers and travelers.
Q) What is “bringing the hearts together” means ?
Ans) Zakah is also paid to those people who might be engaged in anti-islamic activities to bring
them towards Islam or to those in the camp of the unbelievers who might be brought to help the
Muslims or to those newly converted Muslims to attract them towards Islam and strengthen their
faith.
Past Paper Questions
2019 - 6c
2020 - 6c
2021 - 6d
2022 - 6b
2023 - 6b
Sample - 6b
