Question:
People are saying to me that they don’t have to pay zakat, because they pay lots of money in tax to the government, which takes care of people’s needs.
What can I say to them, please? I live in Britain.
Answer:
As-Salamu ‘Alaikum,
Taxes and zakat are not synonyms. Tax and zakat have different concepts and are used in different aspects:
- Paying zakat is an Islamic order but tax is a government order.
- Tax is spent for government needs but zakat is spent for Muslim needs.
- Zakat is used to remove poverty but tax is used to supply expenditure of government.
- Zakat has specified limitations but tax doesn’t have specified limitations as government experts specify its limit according to its needs. Etc…
Dr. Senad Agic, Imam
SABAH – Chicago
9920 Grand Ave
Franklin Park, IL 60131
