Zakah is one of the five pillars of Islam. The Qur'aan and the ahadeeth repeatedly stress the importance of fulfilling the duty of zakah, mentioning great reward for the one who fulfils it and severe punishment for those who neglect it. Through zakah, Allaah purifies the wealth of the giver, and increases it in blessings. By failing to give through, a Muslim suffers loss in this world and the Hereafter. 

Paying the right amount of zakah, at the right time is of utmost importance, as is ensuring that it is given to the right recipients. These days, however, many Muslims do not discharge the duty of zakah correctly, either through neglect or because they are not familiar with the rules related to it. 

This concise booklet is a translation of Ahkam-e-Zakah wa Ushr, authored by the eminent Islamic scholar, Mufti Muhammad Rafee Uthmani hafizahullah. Written with the aim of tackling the prevailing ignorance about zakah, it is a useful guide to the basics of one of the fundamental obligations in Islam.