A beautiful act of worship
The word ‘zakat’ denotes the amount of wealth (usually 2.5%) a Muslim must pay to particular categories of underprivileged people, if their annual wealth exceeds a specific amount.
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam. Linguistically, it means “to purify.” By paying zakat we purify our wealth by sharing it with others.
Zakat is neither a tax nor a charity, it is an obligation to fulfill, and something for which we will be accountable to Allah directly.

Zakat benefits the person who receives it but also the person who gives it. We should be grateful for the opportunity to increase our righteous deeds through it.
Zakat purifies our hearts, because it goes against our selfish instincts to hoard wealth for ourselves. Whatever material comfort we have been given is a test for us.
By paying Zakat we acknowledge that our wealth is not our own, but a blessing to be shared. Zakat ensures that the very poorest of society are protected from hunger and insecurity and the need for basic essentials. The giver embodies the spirit of social responsibility.