Zakat and Sadaqah are two most important and highly preached charity-related acts in Islam. Even though there are multiple similarities between zakat and sadaqah, they can never be labeled as the same. The sole purpose of both these highly-admired charity acts is to help those in need.
However, there are a few key differences between zakat and sadaqah that can never be overlooked. In order to have a better understanding regarding the concept of zakat and sadaqah let’s go over a few notable differences that set the two terms apart!
What is the Difference Between Zakat and Sadaqah?
The first pointer to note down regarding zakat and sadaqah is that under no circumstances both of these terms can be used in place of each other. Another major difference between both these acts is, that if one is paying sadaqah it doesn\’t necessarily mean that they have fulfilled their obligation of paying zakat.
Moreover, zakat is among the five pillars of Islam. It is an obligatory payment that needs to be made annually by every single Muslim who has the means and resources with the pure intention of helping those in need. On the other hand, sadaqah is a kind gesture done purely out of goodwill to help those less fortunate than us. Unlike Zakat, Sadaqah isn’t an obligatory Islamic practice.
Zakat – A Mechanism for Wealth Purification
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. It is a part of social responsibility and an obligation that every wealthy Muslim needs to fulfill in the form of yearly payments made for the betterment of struggling families in society. The amount of zakat that one needs to pay is equivalent to 2.5% of the total net worth and possessions of an individual, excluding the family and necessary expenses.
There is not any fixed time to pay the zakat, you can pay your zakat whenever it’s feasible for you. Generally, people practice making their zakat donations in the holy month of Ramadan, as in this month the reward for every good deed is multiplied by 70.
The rewards for paying your Zakat on time are beyond one’s imagination. This obligatory Islamic act requires a lot of selflessness and dedication toward Allah (SWT) hence, the rewards for this highly preached act are immense. You get the following benefits from paying timely zakat with pure intentions.
- Zakat is a fool proof mechanism to purify your wealth along with safe guarding it.
- Zakat in general has a multitude of positive long lasting impacts on society.
- Zakat has proven to strengthen the feelings of brotherhood and fraternity.
- Zakat is a way to please Allah (SWT) and gain his closeness.
- Zakat is highly responsible for erasing your former sins.
When it comes to zakat, there are certain conditions. Such as only people belonging to certain groups are eligible for receiving zakat, and you are responsible for making sure that your zakat reaches the people who are eligible and truly deserving of zakat. In order to make sure that your zakat reaches the deserving, you can rely on Ekplatebiryani. Make your donations to Ekplatebiryani right now and witness the potential your zakat has to change the lives of thousands of struggling families out there.
The significance of zakat has been stressed on various occasions in the Quran alongside another pillar of Islam known as Salah. This shows how important it is to give your Zakat on time with pure intentions in order to protect yourself from calamities and the wrath of Allah (SWT).
“And establish prayer and give zakat, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah.” (2:110)
Sadaqah – Voluntary Charity
Sadaqah is a form of voluntary charity given with the intention to please Allah (SWT), it isn’t an obligatory Islamic practice. Unlike Zakat, Sadaqah doesn\’t necessarily have to be in financial terms, in fact, any kind gesture that brings a smile on someone’s or benefits them in any way is sadaqah.
Merely passing a smile with good intentions, removing a hurdle from someone’s path, or any other act of kindness done to help someone is counted as sadaqah.
Sadaqah can be given by anyone to anyone, which means there aren’t any conditions for giving sadaqah. An ideal way for us to lead a prosperous life is to divide our monthly income into three portions: savings, expenses, and sadaqah. You can opt for Ekplatebiryani in order to make sure that your sadaqah donations are utilized for the welfare of mankind.
Giving regular sadaqah has a multitude of positive everlasting impacts on one’s life. We are listing down a few benefits of giving sadaqah regularly.
- Sadaqah helps in fighting their nafs.
- Sadaqah protects from calamities and unforeseen tragedies.
- Sadaqah is greatly responsible for erasing past sins.
- One form of sadaqah known as sadaqah jariyah is the best possible investment for this life and the hereafter.
- Sadaqah has proven to cure ailments.
- Sadaqah will provide you with shade on the day of judgement.
One can easily comprehend the immense rewards and benefits that come with giving regular sadaqah, through this hadith.
“Sadaqah extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire” (Tirmidhi)
Zakat & Sadaqah FAQs
Is Zakat a form of Sadaqah?
At some occasions, the term sadaqah is used to refer to zakat in the Quran, however in general both these terms have different meanings and significance. Zakat is an obligatory Islamic practice that every able Muslim needs to fulfill, whereas sadaqah is a voluntary form of charity done out of pure goodwill.
What are the 2 types of Sadaqah?
There are 2 different forms of sadaqah, number one is sadaqah jariyah and number two is simple sadaqah.
What are the similarities between Zakat and Sadaqah?
Zakat and sadaqah are two charity-related acts which share quite a lot in common. As obvious as it is, the key similarity between zakat and sadaqah is that both of these acts are done with the sole purpose of helping those in need. Moreover, both these acts are a great way to gain Allah (SWT) closeness by pleasing him through helping his creation.
Can Zakat count as Sadaqah Jariyah?
If given to the eligible people with the intention of fulfilling your Islamic obligation of zakat, then zakat can be counted as sadaqah jariyah.
End Note on Zakat and Sadaqah
We hope this article has helped you differentiate between these two highly preached and significant concepts of charity in Islam. Both zakat and sadaqah are vital elements of being a Muslim. Zakat being an obligatory Islamic practice is mandatory for every Muslim, whereas sadaqah as a voluntary charity is essential for keeping yourself grounded and gaining Allah’s (SWT) closeness.
Hence, make sure to pay your zakat on time, and adopt a habit of doing regular sadaqah. You can blindly trust Ekplatebiryani with your zakat and sadaqah, so donate now!
