Lesson video

Hello there, and welcome to another religious education lesson with me, Mr. Green.

Today, we are going to learn about Islamic practises and in particular, we are going to focus our attention on Zakah.

Now, in order to do that and become a wise and noble and fine theologian, you will need four things, so please take a moment to make sure you have a pen, a different colour pen, some paper to work on, and your theology brains.

If you need to go get any of those things please pause the video and do that for me now.

So, what are we doing today? We are going to acquire a detailed understanding of Zakah.

That means you're going to be able to explain why Zakah's important within Islam, explain what Khums and sadaqah are, and that's going to give us a detailed understanding of how and why Muslims practise Zakah.

So, firstly, what is Zakah? Here is a simple definition.

Zakah is an obligatory charitable payment.

It's paid by all Muslims. It's one of the five pillars of Islam.

The word obligartory's in there.

Remember the word obligatory means compulsory, it has to be done, so that tells us that charity is something that Muslims have to do.

They're also remind us is that this payment Zakah is one of the five pillars.

So, I wonder if you can remember the five pillars of Islam.

The first one remember, is the Shahdah, the declaration of faith.

The second one is Salah, the five daily prayers.

The third one is Zakah, that's what we're learning about today; the charity payment.

The fourth one is Sawm, that's fasting throughout the Islamic month of Ramadan.

And the fifth one is the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.

So, what I'd like to do now please, is pause the video to write down this definition.

Zakah is an obligatory charitable payment.

Un-pause the video, once you've done that.

So, we're going to have a look at Zakah in a little bit more detail now.

We're going to look at a slightly more complicated definition.

Here is the beginning of a more complex definition.

Zakah is an obligatory charitable payment on idle wealth.

And this, is the wealth left over at the end of the year, once you've taken care of your basic necessities.

And that also includes other things, which weren't necessary for you to buy.

So idle wealth can also include things like debt that people owe you, lavish jewellery you might have bought.

Shares in companies, and things like that.

Now, if we have a look at this example, we can hopefully try and get a really good understanding of what idle wealth is.

So, let's imagine, someone earns 10,000 pounds in a year, it would cost them 6,000 pound to look after their basic necessities, so the idle wealth, the wealth they have left over at the end of the year is 4,000 pounds, so it's that 4,000 part in which Zakah becomes applicable.

Not the six, not the 10.

It's the idle wealth, the wealth left over at the end of the year once they've taken care of their basic necessities.

So, again, please pause the video, and we're going to add this to our definition now.

Zakah's an obligatory charitable payment on idle wealth.

This is the wealth left over at the end of the year, once you've taken care of your basic necessities.

Pause the video, write that down, then un-pause the video for me.

Right, now, even more complicated.

There's more complex definition.

You do not have to pay Zakah on all of your idle wealth.

There's a savings allowance.

This savings allowance is called nisab, and you actually pay Zakah on any idle wealth above the savings allowance.

Now the savings allowance is actually quite complicated.

It isn't a set amount year on year.

The savings amounts actually tied to the value of specific weight of gold and a specific weight of silver.

It's 87 grammes of gold, and 610 grammes of silver.

So really, what Muslims are allowed to save within their idle wealth before paying Zakah is whatever the value of 87 grammes of gold is and 612, 612, 612 grammes of silver.

So, let's for arguments sake say, let's do that calculation.

87 grammes of gold and 612 grammes of silver equates to 2,000 pounds.

That would then leave us with this, wouldn't it? Still, have the earnings of 10,000 pounds, cost 6,000 pounds to look after the basic necessities, 4,000 pounds is our idle wealth, but what we have is 2,000 pounds of a savings allowance.

So what we'll actually be paying our savings on is 2,000 pounds; that's what we'll be paying our Zakah on.

So, can you please pause the video and add to your definition as you can see on the slide here? Once you've got this down, please un-pause the video and rejoin.

So, let's run through that with numbers, now then.

So, this is the final part of our definition.

A Muslim is required to pay 2.

5% on any idle wealth they have above nisab.

In the example we've been working on, we've got 4,000 pounds of idle wealth, we've got our savings allowance of 2,000 pounds, so what that essentially means is 2.

5% of the 2,000 pounds which a Muslim has as idle wealth above that savings allowance, which is nisab.

So, in the example, it'd be 2.

5% of 2,000 pounds, and all the math-magicians will actually be crying out, Mr. Green, that's 50 pounds.

It is indeed 50 pounds, well done.

So, let's just run that through.

10,000 pounds total earnings in a year, 6,000 pounds to look after the basic necessity, 4,000 pounds of idle wealth, but we know we have a savings allowance within that of 2,000 pounds.

So, it's 2,000 pounds to pay the Zakah payment on and 2.

5% of 2,000 pounds is 50 pounds.

So, pause the video again and just add this final bit to your definition; A Muslim is required to pay 2.

5% on any idle wealth they have above nisab.

Pause it now please.

So, let's do some quick fire questions.

Can we remember all those complex things you've just learned about Zakah? Idle wealth, nisab, so, is Zakah obligatory? True or false? Well done, it's true.

Will Zakah involve all Muslims making a charity payment? True or false? It's false, if you don't have idle wealth, well, if you don't have idle wealth above nisab, then you won't have to pay it.

Muslims can avoid paying Zakah by spending all of their money.

True or false? Well done, it's false.

Remember, idle wealth also includes things you buy that you didn't need, so investing in companies, debts people owe you.

Those types of things are also classed as idle wealth.

Which of these is idle wealth? A savings allowance, or money left over at the end of each year once you have taken care of your basic necessities.

Point at it now for me.

Good work, well done, I know you're pointing at that one there.

Which one of these is nisab? A savings allowance or the money you are allowed to spend in a year? Nisab is the savings allowance, well done.

What is the percentage used to calculate Zakah? Five, 10, 2.

5, point to it now, please.

Excellent work, well done.

What's idle wealth? Point to it now.

Brilliant job, well done.

What's nisab? Excellent, the money you have, the money you're allowed to save before paying Zakah.

How's nisab calculated? Is it set 2,000 pounds? Do you calculate a certain weight of gold and silver? Or, can individual Muslims set their own savings allowance? Well done, it's the weight of gold and silver, isn't it? Remember it's 87 grammes of gold and 612 grammes of silver.

Why does the nisab allowance change yearly? Three options, it doesn't, it's fixed.

Cause the value of gold and silver changes.

Or because it's nice to have things in life that involve complicated mathematics.

The middle one, although, complicated mathematics is a great pleasure of life.

Which of these is idle wealth? Well done, money left over.

Which of these is nisab? Well done, savings allowance.

What percentages, 5, 10, 2.

5? 2.

5, good job.

What's idle wealth? Well done, the money you have left at the end of the year after taken care of your basic necessities.

Nisab? Well done, that's the amount of idle wealth you're allowed to save before you pay.

How is nisab calculated? Remind, me, remind me, point to it now.

Well done, the weight of gold and the weight of silver.

Why does the nisab allowance change yearly? Remind me.

Well done, the value of gold and silver changes.

So, now we've gone through all that really detailed information and you know all that really detailed information.

Well done, by the way.

What I'd like you to do now is answer the following true or false questions.

So, read through these six statements.

If the statement is true, write true, followed by the statement.

If the statement is false, write down false, followed by a correction.

So, pause the video now, and then once finished, un-pause it and join me for feedback.

So, hopefully this is what you have managed to do.

You have managed to say that it is true Zakah is an obligation for all Muslims. The second one was false, and you've corrected that by saying, only Muslims who can afford to give money are required to give it.

The third one was false, so hopefully you said, a correction here, Zakah is paid on idle wealth.

That's the wealth left after you've taken care of your basic necessities.

Number four, true, Muslims are allowed to save a certain amount before paying Zakah.

Number five, false, nisab is the value of 87 grammes of gold and 612 grammes of silver.

And the final one was true.

If you just had to write that out again, Zakah is the requirement to pay 2.

5% of any idle wealth above nisab.

Now, if you need to correct or amend your work, or add to it, please pause the video now, get a different colour pen, and make those corrections so your theology is as lovely as it can possibly be.

The next thing we're going to do together is think really carefully, really clearly, about what the purpose of Zakah is.

So, here on the board you can see there're five reasons I'll read through them.

Expected by Allah, modelled by Muhammad, helps and shows love to the Ummah, helps organise your priorities correctly, and wealth belongs to Allah.

So, firstly, it's expected by Allah in the Quran, it states that, Allah loves those who do good deeds.

It also states that welfare funds have to be given.

Those welfare funds are the Zakah payment.

Charity is a good deed, so it makes it really clear in the Quran that Zakah payments are an expectation and obligation.

Secondly, modelled by Muhammad.

The final prophet, who showed what Allah's will was.

Muhammad had really clear instructions for people.

In the Quran it says, Zakah payments are important, Muhammad clarified, and he actually said, look, if you have 200 dirhams, dirhams by the way, money, so people have 200 units of currency, 200 bits of money, and he said, well, at once you've had those 200 bits of money, that currency, dirhams, and you have passes on them, five are payable.

The math-magicians will be striking again now and saying five of 200 Mr. Green, five of 200 is 2.

5%, and that is where, the 2.

5% rule comes from.

Muhammad made it really clear that that's what the expectation was.

The third one, says helps and shows love to the Ummah.

Remember the Ummah is the Islamic community.

The world wide group of Muslims coming together.

And the money is actually used to help those in need within the Ummah and this means that the Zakah payment helps to strengthen the Islamic community in a way that allows Muslims to show love to other people in the Ummah who need help, who need support.

Fourthly, helps organise your priorities correctly.

We live in a commercial world, don't we? People want things all the time, and it's tempting, isn't it? To let that desire for things take over and to be really focused on money, but that is not allowed within Islam.

Your number one priority always has to be Allah and this charitable payment reminds Muslims of that.

Have to give to charity for God.

It helps put Allah at the top, Allah number one, money beneath Allah, everything beneath Allah.

And finally, wealth belongs to Allah.

Muslims believe all things are created by Allah and that includes our wealth.

And what that means is, we need to use it in a way that pleases Allah.

How do Muslims use wealth in a way that pleases Allah? Well, they make Zakah payments to make sure that the resources Allah creates are sharely faired by all.

So, a task for you now, you can see on the left hand side of your screens, five reasons why Zakah is important.

You can also see on the right hand side, five explanations.

The reasons and the explanations are not currently matched, so what I would like to do is write down reason one, find the explanation that is explaining that reason, and then write that down next to it.

So please pause the video now, and then join me for feedback afterwards.

Excellent, good work there.

So, the first reason is it is expected by Allah.

Remember, it says in the Quran that "God loves those who do good deeds." Good deeds, like charity, are expected by Allah.

Secondly, modelled by Muhammad.

The explanation that matched with that one was Muhammad said that when a year passes on wealth, we ought to pay 2.

5% of it to charity.

The example of the prophet Muhammad cannot be ignored.

Thirdly, helps the Ummah.

Muslims need to show love to the Islamic community.

And giving Zakah helps those less fortunate in the Ummah.

Fourthly, helps to correctly order priorities.

It makes sure Muslims place love for Allah over love of money.

And fifth, wealth belongs to Allah.

Allah creates everything, so wealth needs to be used in a way that pleases him.

Now, if you need to check your work to make it delightful theology, please do that now, pause it, different colour pen and make any corrections or amendments, and then carry on by simply hitting the play button.

So the next thing we're going to do is look at what the Quran says about who Zakah is for.

And this quotation makes it clear, it picks out eight groups, that we'll talk a little bit more about in just a moment together.

And it tells us that welfare funds are only for the poor, the destitute, the tax collectors, those whose hearts are inclined towards Islam, the slaves, those who cannot pay their debts, for the cause of God, and for those who have become needy on a journey.

So, let's think about these groups.

The poor, those in society without much money.

That's who that means.

The needy, let's remember the needy aren't always poor.

Think of a person who's sick, they might have money, but still need help.

Those who administer, now what this is talking about is people who administer the funds.

Essentially, these are the people who collect Zakah and make sure it's given to the right people.

Fourthly, those whose hearts are converting.

These are the people who are converting to Islam, to become part of the Ummah.

They might experience some hardship in having to change their lifestyle and may also need some help understanding the practical rules of Islam.

Next, slaves, now this could for example be a prisoner of war.

Maybe someone who was fighting to defend Islam.

Clearly people in that situation will need help.

Next, those in debt.

This refers to those with large debts which they cannot pay.

They can only get help with their debts though, if their debts were not caused by doing things which break Islamic rules.

For example, you wouldn't get help if your debt was caused by gambling or drinking.

Seven, for God's cause.

What this means is those doing things for Allah can get help.

This might be spreading his works to convert others, and it might be defending the faith against attack.

And finally, the travellers in need.

These are people who are stranded away from home and may need help, for example, refugees.

Think of people fleeing Syria.

They will need lots of help, and that help will cost money.

Zakah funds can be used for that.

So, here's a task.

We're going to write down the eight groups that Zakah can be used to help.

And then you can see I've put the description of who is included in that group.

I would like you to summarise that description in no more than five words for me please.

So, let's check how you did.

Group the poor.

Brief description, those without much money.

The destitute, those who are ill.

Collectors, those who oversee Zakah.

Those whose hearts are inclined to Islam.

Helping converts understand Islam.

To free slaves.

Prisoners of war or slaves.

Help those in debt.

Debts which can't be paid.

God's cause.

Those spreading or defending Islam and travellers in need.

Those stranded from home, for example, refugees.

Again, if you need to pause your work to make any corrections or amendments or just improve it, please do that now with a different colour pen.

So, the next thing we're going to do is have a look at Khums. Tells us here that Shi'a Muslims also have to make an additional payment to make, and that's called Khums. Khums is a 20% payment on money gained in the year.

It's given to leaders or Imams to share with different groups that are in need.

And the 20% can be paid on anything, like salaries and wages, profits from business, any money you might make from investments, gifts you've had, anything you might inherit.

All of those things would be an example of money gained in the year, which a Shi'a Muslim, not all Muslims, a Shi'a Muslim, would have to also pay toward charity.

So Shi'a Muslims have both Zakah and also Khums. Can you please, in a moment, pause the video then write down this definition.

Shi'a Muslims also have an additional payment to make called Khums. Khums is a 20% payment on money gained in the year.

E.

g.

wages, profit from business, profit from investments, gifts, or inheritance.

Once you've done that, un-pause the video and join me again.

So, another really important thing for us to learn is that Zakah and Khums are minimum requirements.

Zakah and Khums are obligatory.

They set a minimum, but Muslims can give more optional charity, and the term for that optional charity is sadaqah.

And that sells an important principle again, doesn't it? Yes, there are rules for charity, and those rules set a minimum.

So all Muslims have to make that 2.

5% payment on their idle after against, or above, sorry, nisab.

Shi'a Muslims have to add on to that, their Khums of 20% of money gained in the year.

And any Muslims at all is perfectly capable and perfectly able to make additional charity.

There's no rule against additional charity.

The additional charity's of course encouraged and that additional charity is called sadaqah.

So, please, again, in a moment, pause the video, and write this definition out.

Zakah and Khums are obligatory.

They set a minimum.

Muslims can give more optional charity.

Additional charity is called sadaqah.

Un-pause the video, once you've finished that.

So let's do some quick fire questions to check we've got everything that we need to.

So, which denomination of Islam pay Zakah? Point to it on your screens now, Sunni, Shi'a or all.

It's all, well done.

Which denomination of Islam pays Khums? Sunni, Shi'a or both? Well done, it's Shi'a isn't it? Which denomination of Islam can pay sadaqah? Sunni, Shi'a or both? Well done, it's both.

Which denomination of Islam, sorry, has to pay sadaqah? Has to pay sadaqah, there's a clue there.

Neither, remember, it's optional extra.

What's the percentage used to calculate Zakah? Five, 2.

5, or 20? It's 2.

5, well done.

Percentage used to calculate Khums? Point to it now.

20, excellent, well done.

Why does the nisab allowance change yearly? Can you remember that from the start? Good, it's the middle one, the value of gold and silver which sets it changes all the time.

Which payment takes nisab into account? Zakah, Khums, or both? Zakah.

Which payment takes idle wealth into account? Zakah, Khums, or both? Zakah, well done.

Which of these is idle wealth? The savings allowance or the money left over at the end of each year once you've taken care of your basic necessities? Point to it, well done.

Which of these is nisab? The savings allowance or the money you're allowed to spend in a year? Point to it, good job, you're point at savings allowance, aren't you? Next one, the percentage used to calculate Zakah? One more time, point to it again.

2.

5%, well done.

Idle wealth, find it, point to it.

Excellent, well done.

What you have left after you have taken care of your basic necessities.

Nisab, find it, point to it.

Well done, its the savings allowance, isn't it? How is it calculated? Fixed, weight of gold and silver, or individual Muslims can set their own savings allowance.

Excellent, well done, gold and silver, gold and silver, gold and silver.

Why does the nisab allowance change yearly? It doesn't, it's fixed, the value of gold and silver changes, or it's nice to have complicated mathematics.

Excellent, gold and silver changes all the time.

Denomination of Islam that pays Zakah? Good, well done.

Denomination of Islam that pays Khums? Sunni, Shi'a or both? Well done, Shi'a.

Denomination of Islam that can pay sadaqah? Not has to, but can, not has to, but can.

Well done, both can, remember, it's optional additional, and it's optional and additional to all Muslims. Which denomination which denomination of Islam has to pay sadaqah? Sunni, Shi'a or neither? Has to, has to, well done, it's neither.

It's optional, additional.

Excellent work today, I am really impressed with you.

Now, please take the quiz to check what you have learned.

I am sure it is a lot, well done.

Also, if you'd like to share your work, with the Oak National Academy, please ask your parent or carer to share your work on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, using the hashtag, or, I can remember what it is, yes, it's called a Twitter handle or the Twitter handle that you can see on your screen now.

It is a Twitter handle or a tag? You tell me.

Lovely to spend time with you today, I very much hope to spend some time with you again in the very near future.

Thank you, well done, and goodbye.