One who knows no needy persons may give Zakat to a mosque or charity specifically to help the poor, but general charities to mosques, hospitals, or organizations are not Zakat.1
Charities also go to those suffering in God's cause who cannot emigrate, the workers who collect charity, new converts, freeing slaves, and those burdened by sudden expenses in God's cause.1
We should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor, and giving to them brings greater joy, for it is more blessed to give than to receive.1, 2
God is aware of individual circumstances, so those who can fast only with great difficulty may feed one poor person for each day instead, though fasting is best.1, 2
The difficult path one should choose includes freeing slaves, feeding related orphans and the needy in hardship, believing, and exhorting one another to steadfastness and kindness.1, 2
Those who can fast only with great difficulty may feed one poor person for each day missed, though fasting remains best and volunteering more is better.1, 2
Fasting is meant as motivation, not hardship, because hunger makes us appreciate God's provisions and feel for those who have less.1
Those who are ill or traveling may make up the same number of days later, and those who can fast only with great difficulty may instead feed one poor person for each day.1
Fasting deepens appreciation for food and water and can increase compassion for those who lack them.1, 2
One who fasts only with great difficulty may instead feed at least one poor person for each day missed, though fasting remains the best option.1, 2
Besides our duty to God, we owe duties to His creations, such as caring for the destitute, looking after stray animals, and helping our mothers who are also fasting.1, 2
The purpose of fasting is to feel the plight of the poor, so afterward we should make sure the needy are not deprived of food and water.1, 2
The difficult path humans should choose is freeing slaves, feeding others in hardship, caring for related orphans and the needy poor, believing, and urging one another to steadfastness and kindness.1, 2, 3, 4
Fasting puts rich and poor, strong and weak on the same footing, is not meant as self torture, and allows alleviations for special circumstances.1
One who is ill or traveling may fast an equal number of other days, and one who can fast only with great difficulty may feed a poor person for each day instead, though fasting is best.1
The Quran deliberately warns against taking advantage of the weak, which is partly why the debtor dictates the terms when financial transactions are written down.1, 2
Fasting is best if possible, but the ill or traveling may make up an equal number of other days, and those who fast only with great difficulty may feed one poor person per day.1, 2, 3
The Quran calls believers to be active rather than stagnant and to move swiftly to help the less fortunate, and God exalts those who strive above those who sit back.1, 2
Charitable people have loaned God a good loan and will be rewarded manifold, and giving anonymously to the poor is better and remits more sins.1, 2, 3
Masjid Tucson runs a soup kitchen with a church and a Jewish congregation, feeding 350 to 400 homeless and poor families each month since 1993.1
Contact Prayer, Zakat, Fasting, and Hajj are obligatory but do not excuse us from duties to parents, relatives, the poor, and travelers, since there is no part time submission.1, 2, 3, 4
Denying fellow humans their due share usurps their rights and risks God's wrath in this life and in the Hereafter.1
Tobit teaches giving alms in proportion to what one owns and never turning away from the poor.1
Humans are created to work hard, and they should choose the difficult path of freeing slaves, feeding related orphans and the needy poor, believing, and urging one another to be steadfast and kind.1, 2
If humans followed God's system there would be no hunger or poverty, but Satan misleads people into hoarding and thinking helping others is not their problem.1, 2
Someone who knows no one in need may give Zakat to an organization or mosque that helps poor people.1
Zakat provides resources to those in need and so promotes social justice.1
Clean water is a gift from God, and the best way to appreciate it is to share it with the needy, being charitable as God has been charitable to us.1, 2
We should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor, and helping them brings far greater pleasure.1, 2
Masjid Tucson joins a church and a Jewish group to feed hundreds of hungry and homeless people in Tucson twice a month.1, 2
Not regarding the orphan, not advocating charity for the poor, and consuming orphans' inheritance bring hardship upon people.1
The difficult path that deserves happiness is freeing slaves, feeding related orphans and the needy in hardship, believing, and exhorting one another to steadfastness and kindness.1
Though there is enough food, people go hungry because of worldly limitations in Satan's kingdom, and God turned this into a test and opportunity to act righteously.1, 2
The ill or traveling may make up fasting days later, and those who can fast only with great difficulty may feed one poor person per day, though fasting is best.1, 2
Giving charity to relatives, the poor, and the traveling alien, seeking God's pleasure, makes one a winner.1
Whatever the cause of poverty, we are commanded to help the poor, and believers set aside a portion of their earnings for the needy.1, 2, 3
Charities go to the poor, the needy, the collectors, new converts, freeing slaves, those with sudden expenses, the cause of God, and the traveling alien, as God commands.1
Those who can fast only with great difficulty may instead feed one poor person for each day they do not fast, though fasting is best.1
A reader says that in monotheism one places trust in God, stays steadfast, honors parents, and cares for relatives, the poor, and the needy.1
The difficult path is freeing slaves and feeding related orphans and the needy poor in hard times, and those who follow it deserve happiness forever.1, 2, 3, 4
A person who knows no needy people may give Zakat to a mosque or charity whose distinct purpose is helping the poor, but general charities to mosques, hospitals, or organizations do not count as Zakat.1
Declared charity is still good, but giving anonymously to the poor is better and remits more sins.1
Research shows that giving poor people money makes them less poor, and they tend to use it productively rather than squander it.1, 2, 3
Zakat is 2.5 percent of net income, given to the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, and the traveling alien, in that order.1, 2
Zakat should be given as soon as income arrives because the poor are hungry today, and waiting makes it harder on ourselves and on society.1, 2
God sends provisions in exact measure, enough for everyone, so whoever takes more than his share and denies others their provision will be held to account on the Day of Resurrection.1, 2, 3