Minding your zakat

Zaka (or zakat) is the third pillar of Islam. The four Sunni schools agree that zaka is the right of Allah over a Muslim's wealth, and that it is incumbent on every mature, sane, free Muslim who possesses nisab. There is disagreement over whether minors and the insane should pay zaka and whether the debtor should pay zaka on his debt, especially if his debt is the liability of the creditor. Some indisputable facts should reduce disagreement about zaka. The Prophetic rulings on zaka were exemplary and restrictive. The Prophet did not intend that zaka be paid in kind. He set the nisab according to the norms of his era, and treated cash in a unique manner. Zaka is right of Allah on the wealth of a Muslim and not a tax. Every Muslim should adhere to the principles of zaka.