what is zakat in islam 
zakat is an islamic financial term as one of the pillars of the faith it requires all muslims to donate a portion of their wealth to charity muslims must meet a certain threshold before they can qualify for zakat the amount is 2 5 or 1 40 of an individual s total savings and wealth zakat can be paid at any time during the lunar year some islamic countries require citizens to pay zakat while others do not 