Zakat & Islamic Finance Glossary (A–Z)

Nisab نِصاب

The minimum amount of wealth (value of 87.48g gold or 612.36g silver) at which Zakat becomes obligatory. Learn more →

Hawl حَوْل

One full lunar year of continuously owning wealth above nisab — the point at which Zakat falls due. Learn more →

Zakat زَكاة

The obligatory annual charity of 2.5% on qualifying wealth; the third pillar of Islam. Learn more →

Zakat al-Fitr زَكاة الفِطْر

A charity of staple food (or its value) paid per person before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. Learn more →

Fitrana

The common South-Asian name for Zakat al-Fitr. Learn more →

Sadaqah صَدَقة

Voluntary charity of any amount, at any time, to anyone in need. Learn more →

Sadaqah Jariyah صَدَقة جارِية

Ongoing charity that keeps benefiting people (e.g. a well or knowledge), earning reward even after death. Learn more →

Fidya فِدْية

Compensation for fasts a person genuinely cannot keep or make up — feeding one poor person per missed day. Learn more →

Kaffarah كَفّارة

Expiation for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast (fast 60 days or feed 60 poor) or a broken oath (feed 10). Learn more →

Qurbani / Udhiyah أُضْحِية

The sacrifice of a livestock animal during Eid al-Adha, its meat shared with family and the poor. Learn more →

Faraid فَرائِض

The Islamic law of inheritance — the fixed shares in which a deceased Muslim’s estate is divided. Learn more →

Asnaf أصناف

The eight categories of people eligible to receive Zakat, named in Qur’an 9:60. Learn more →

Fuqarāʾ فُقَراء

The poor — those with little or no means; the first category of Zakat recipients. Learn more →

Masākīn مَساكين

The needy who cannot meet their basic needs; the second category of Zakat recipients. Learn more →

ʿĀmil عامِل

Those appointed to collect and administer Zakat; a Zakat category. Learn more →

Ghārimīn غارِمين

Those burdened by lawful debt they cannot repay; a Zakat category. Learn more →

Riqāb رِقاب

Freeing those in bondage; a Zakat category. Learn more →

Fī sabīlillāh في سبيل الله

“In the cause of Allah”; a Zakat category. Learn more →

Ibn al-Sabīl ابن السبيل

The stranded traveller in need; a Zakat category. Learn more →

Wasiyyah وَصِيّة

An Islamic bequest of up to one-third of the estate to non-heirs. Learn more →

ʿAsaba عَصَبة

Residuary heirs who take what remains of an estate after the fixed shares (e.g. sons, father). Learn more →

ʿAwl عَوْل

Proportional reduction of shares when the fixed shares add up to more than the whole estate. Learn more →

Radd رَدّ

Returning any surplus proportionally to the fixed-share heirs when there is no residuary heir. Learn more →

Tamlīk تَمْليك

The requirement that Zakat be given into the full ownership of an eligible recipient. Learn more →

Ribā رِبا

Interest or usury, prohibited in Islam; interest earned is not zakatable and should be given away. Learn more →

Mithqāl مِثْقال

A classical weight; the gold nisab is 20 mithqāl ≈ 87.48 grams. Learn more →

Dirham دِرْهَم

A classical silver coin; the silver nisab is 200 dirhams ≈ 612.36 grams. Learn more →

Tola تولا

A South-Asian unit of weight, about 11.66 grams, often used for gold. Learn more →

ʿUshr عُشْر

Zakat on agricultural produce — 10% for rain-fed and 5% for irrigated land. Learn more →

Rikāz رِكاز

Buried treasure or minerals, on which a 20% (khums) levy applies. Learn more →

Ṣāʿ صاع

A measure of volume (~2.5–3 kg of staple food) used for Zakat al-Fitr. Learn more →

Madhhab مَذْهَب

A school of Islamic jurisprudence — the four Sunni schools are Hanafi, Shāfiʿī, Mālikī and Hanbalī. Learn more →