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161 Payment Of Zakat #146

Categories: NOTES
Sources: The Kitab-i-aqdas

Zakat is referred to in the Qur'an as a regular charity binding upon

Muslims. In due course the concept evolved into a form of alms-tax which

imposed the obligation to give a fixed portion of certain categories of

income, beyond specified limits, for the relief of the poor, for various

charitable purposes, and to aid the Faith of God. The limit of exemption

varied for different commodities, as did the percentage payable o
the

portion assessable.



Baha'u'llah states that the Baha'i law of Zakat follows what hath been

revealed in the Qur'an (Q and A 107). Since such issues as the limits for

exemption, the categories of income concerned, the frequency of payments,

and the scale of rates for the various categories of Zakat are not

mentioned in the Qur'an, these matters will have to be set forth in the

future by the Universal House of Justice. Shoghi Effendi has indicated

that pending such legislation the believers should, according to their

means and possibilities, make regular contributions to the Baha'i Fund.



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